Maternal Dietary Energy Research Articles

Maternal Dietary Energy and Piglet Health.

Maternal Dietary Energy and Piglet Health.

Effect of maternal dietary starch-to-fat ratio and daily energy intake during late pregnancy on the performance and lipid metabolism of primiparous sows and newborn piglets.

The present study evaluated the effects of maternal dietary energy intake and starch-to-fat ratio during late gestation on the performance and lipid metabolism of sows and their offspring. On day 84 of gestation, 80 Landrace × Yorkshire primiparous sows were assigned to 2×2 factorial arrangements according to body weight following a randomized complete block design. The factors were daily energy intake (8,375 kcal ME/d [CE] vs. 9,600 kcal ME/d [HE]) and dietary starch-to-fat ratio (10:1 [CR] vs. 15:1 [HR]). All sows were fed one of four diets from day 85 of gestation until farrowing. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure in SPSS. High energy intake increased the body weight of sows on day 110 of gestation (P = 0.031) as well as the weight of piglets at birth (P = 0.018). Increased energy intake elevated the plasma triglyceride concentrations in sows (P = 0.027) and piglets (P = 0.044). Maternal high energy intake altered the liver metabolome of newborn piglets in terms of metabolites related to carbohydrate and linoleic acid metabolism. Moreover, maternal high energy intake increased hepatic total cholesterol (P = 0.023) and triglyceride (P = 0.026) concentration in newborn piglets. Furthermore, maternal high energy intake significantly increased the transcript abundance of fatty acid synthase (FAS; P = 0.001) and protein abundance of phosphorylated protein kinase B (P =0.001) in the liver of newborn piglets. A high starch-to-fat ratio reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration in the plasma of sows (P = 0.044) and newborn piglets (P = 0.048) as well as in the liver of newborn piglets (P = 0.015). Furthermore, maternal high starch-to-fat ratio increased the transcript abundances of FAS (P = 0.004) in newborn piglets. In conclusion, high daily energy intake of sows increased the birth weight of newborn piglets. Moreover, maternal high daily energy intake and high dietary starch-to-fat ratio improved the lipid metabolism of newborn piglets.

Effects of maternal dietary energy restriction on laying performance, embryonic development, and lipid metabolism in broilers

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different degrees of maternal dietary energy restriction on lipid deposition in embryonic tissues during the medium laying period (37 to 39 weeks) in Arbor Acres (AA) broiler breeders.MethodsA single factor design was adopted, and 400 AA broiler breeders (20 weeks of age) with a similar weight were randomly allocated into four groups. The birds in the control group were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet, and those in trial groups were fed diets with 80%, 70%, and 50% energy levels of the basal diet. Incubated eggs from the medium laying period were collected. Samples of developing embryos at various stages were prepared for composition analysis.ResultsThe embryo weight in the 80% energy group was higher than those of the other groups on embryonic day (E) 13, but at 21 E, they were significantly decreased with decreasing energy intake of the broiler breeders (p<0.05). Additionally, the levels of crude fat in tissues in the restriction groups were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The long axis and area of adipocytes in breast muscle, thigh muscle and the liver were significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 21 E in the 80%, 70%, and 50% energy groups.ConclusionThe effects of the 80% maternal dietary energy restriction energy affects egg production performance, egg quality, and nutrient deposition in egg weights, which then directly impacts on the developmental process of embryos, especially on fat utilization and deposition.

Maternal Nutrition and Developmental Programming of Male Progeny.

Simple SummaryThe objective of the following review is to describe available literature on the interaction between maternal nutrition and developmental programming in male offspring. The majority of current research focuses on female offspring or fails to take offspring sex into account, though sexual dimorphisms in response to maternal diet are well-recognized. This leaves a large gap in the understanding of male developmental programming. This review will specifically discuss the impacts of maternal dietary energy and protein on bull and ram growth, development, and reproductive capacity in later life.Poor maternal nutrition can cause several maladaptive phenotypes in exposed offspring. While non-sex-specific and female-specific adaptations are well-documented, male-specific outcomes are still poorly understood. Of particular interest are the outcomes in bulls and rams, as developmental programming directly impacts long-term productivity of the animal as well as human food security. The following review discusses the impact of poor maternal dietary energy and protein on bull and ram developmental programming as it relates to growth, development, and reproductive capacity. The review also highlights the importance of the timing of maternal dietary insult, as early-, mid-, and late-gestational insults can all have varying effects on offspring.

Effects of maternal dietary energy restriction on breast muscle fibre development in the offspring of broiler breeders.

ObjectiveThe effects of maternal dietary energy levels on breast muscle fibre development in offspring of broiler breeders were investigated.MethodsA total of 480 20-week-old Arbor Acres (AA) healthy female broiler breeders, with an average body weight of 2.33±0.01 kg, were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups with 6 replicates and 20 broiler breeders for each replicate and fed a corn and soybean meal diet with 100%, 80%, 70%, and 50% energy levels, respectively. Approximately 300 eggs per treatment were collected for incubation for 6 days. Then, 120 0-day-old female broilers at each energy level were randomly selected and divided into 6 replicates with 20 broilers for each replicate, with this experimental phase with the offspring lasting for 49 days.ResultsCompared with the 100% energy group, the breast muscle fibre diameter at embryonic day 21 in the 80% energy group was significantly reduced (p<0.05). In the 80% energy group, the muscle fibre density of the breast increased significantly (p<0.05) at embryonic days 15 and 21. The breast muscle fibre diameter of the offspring in each group was significantly decreased (p<0.05) on the 1st day. The breast muscle sarcomere length of the embryos in the 80% energy group was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those in the 70% and 50% energy groups. Compared with the 100% energy group, the expression of the myostatin gene in the offspring was significantly decreased (p<0.05).ConclusionIn conclusion, the effects of a maternal dietary energy level of 80% in this study were found to be optimal for breast muscle fibre development in offspring, which indicated that the metabolic energy level of AA broilers of 9.36 MJ/kg for the mid-term diet for laying eggs has a more practical significance.

Maternal diet alters human milk oligosaccharide composition with implications for the milk metagenome

Human milk is the optimal nutrition source for infants, and oligosaccharides represent the third most abundant component in milk after lactose and fat. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are favorable macromolecules which are, interestingly, indigestible by the infant but serve as substrates for bacteria. Hypothesizing that the maternal diet itself might influence HMO composition, we sought to directly determine the effect maternal diet on HMO and the milk bacteria. Employing a human cross-over study design, we demonstrate that distinct maternal dietary carbohydrate and energy sources preferentially alter milk concentrations of HMO, including fucosylated species. We find significant associations between the concentration of HMO-bound fucose and the abundance of fucosidase (a bacterial gene that digests fucose moieties) harbored by milk bacteria. These studies reveal a successive mechanism by which the maternal diet during lactation alters milk HMO composition, which in turn shapes the functional milk microbiome prior to infant ingestion.

Maternal birth weight is associated with milk epidermal growth factor in Filipino women.

Lactational programming, through which milk-borne bioactives influence both neonatal and long-term biological development, is well established. However, almost no research has investigated how developmental stimuli during a mother's early life may influence her milk bioactives in adulthood. Here, we investigated the association between maternal birth weight and milk epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in later life. We predicted there would be a decrease in both milk EGF and EGF-R in the milk produced by mothers who were themselves born low birth weight. Study participants are from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Mothers (n = 69) were followed longitudinally since birth with prospective data collection. Anthropometrics, health, and dietary recalls were collected with early morning milk samples when mothers were 24 to 25 years of age. Milk samples were analyzed for EGF and its receptor (EGF-R). Analysis of variance was used to test for differences in milk EGF and EGF-R between low and average birthweight mothers after adjustment for parity, age, and maternal dietary energy intake. Mothers who were low birth weight produced milk with significantly less EGF and more EGF-R which resulted in a lower ratio of EGF to EGF-R. These associations persisted after adjustment for infant age, maternal adiposity, and dietary energy. While this is a small sample size, these preliminary findings suggest that maternal early life characteristics, such as birth weight, may be important contributors to variation in milk bioactives. Future work is necessary to understand how variation in maternal early life may influence milk composition in adulthood.

Energy and protein dilution in broiler breeder pullet diets reduced offspring body weight and yield

ABSTRACTThe objective of the current research was to evaluate transgenerational effects of maternal dietary energy and protein on growth, efficiency, and yield of broiler offspring. A factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of high and low ME and CP levels fed during the rearing and laying phases was used. The study was a final 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, including broiler sex. Ross 708 broiler breeder pullets (n = 933) were fed diets containing 2,736 (HEREAR) or 2,528 kcal/kg ME (LEREAR) with either 15.3% (HPREAR) or 13.7% CP (LPREAR). From 25 wk, dams were fed a 15% CP laying diet containing 2,900 (HELAY) or 2,800 kcal/kg ME (LELAY). Following artificial insemination of the dams at 35 wk, eggs were collected for 1 wk, incubated, and pedigree hatched to preserve maternal identity. Broiler offspring were placed sex-separately into 32 pens, according to laying phase maternal treatments, with rearing maternal treatments nested within pens. Individual BW and pen level feed intake were recorded weekly. Broilers were processed at 40 d of age to evaluate yield. Maternal diet effects on offspring BW were sex dependent and transient. Female LPREAR × LELAY broilers had lower pectoralis major and carcass yield than HPREAR × LELAY females. Male HPREAR × HELAY broilers had increased breast yield (19.8%) compared with 18.4% in HPREAR × LELAY broilers. Carcass yield was lower in LEREAR × HPREAR broilers (63.7%) compared with HEREAR × HPREAR broilers (64.9%). LEREAR × HPREAR dams had the lowest ME to CP ratio (E: P) diets and highest rearing phase CP intake. Maternal diet did not influence offspring FCR. The most consistent contributor to increased BW was higher maternal dietary CP and ME during rearing. Low ME maternal laying phase diets increased BW of male offspring more consistently than of female offspring. Maternal nutrition also influenced broiler yield, and is thus economically important. Energy and protein dilution in broiler breeder pullet diets may have detrimental effects on offspring performance.

Maternal energy restriction by low starch or fat affects carcase trait, meat quality and muscle antioxidative properties in Arbor Acres broilers

In the experiment, the effects of maternal dietary energy restriction on carcase, meat quality and antioxidant capacity in broilers were evaluated. A total of 400 25-weeks-old Arbour Acres broiler breeder female birds were randomly assigned to four groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4) with different dietary metabolisable energy levels (11.70, 9.36, 8.19 and 5.85 MJ kg−1). Female birds were restrictively fed same intake. Broilers from different maternal dietary energy were fed diets similar in nutrients contents during deferent growth period. Low maternal energy decreased egg weight and offspring hatch weight. T2 group got a higher thigh muscle percentage of 28-d-old offspring and a higher body weight of 49-d-old offspring than T1 group. Abdominal fat percentage of 49-d-old offspring in T3 group was increased. Low maternal energy increased intramuscular fat (IMF) contents in 28-d-old offspring breast and 49-d-old offspring thigh. 49-d-old offspring in T2 and T3 groups got lower drip loss and higher meat colour value. T2 and T3 groups had higher total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in offspring muscles and lower malondialdehyde level. A higher glutathione peroxidase mRNA expression in breast muscle was found in T2 group. Maternal dietary energy restriction altered egg weight and offspring hatch weight. Appropriate reduction of maternal dietary energy made chickens fattier and increased the antioxidant capacity of offspring muscles.HighlightsIt is well known that embryo development and postnatal growth are influenced by maternal nutritional supply. This paper shows that 9.36 MJ ME/kg diet for hens during laying period is better for broiler to achieve greater slaughter weight and body antioxidant capacity.This paper indicated that maternal dietary energy restriction affected fat accumulation and antioxidant capacity of offspring. Maternal nutritional management may become a way to regulate the quality of chickens through.

Maternal Nutritional and Water Homeostasis as a Presage of Fetal Birth Weight.

Birth weight is a key determinant of perinatal outcomes which affect physical development and metabolic function. In this study, we evaluated the potential role of maternal body composition and nutritional status in programing fetal birth weight. This was a longitudinal study that included 29 pregnant women and their full-term newborns. Maternal dietary energy and fluid intake and body adipose tissue were assessed. In addition, we measured the serum content of copeptin, aldosterone, and angiotensin II in maternal and umbilical cord blood. The measurements were done across the three trimesters of pregnancy, on average, at 11.6weeks, 18.3weeks, and 30.2weeks. Each newborn's birth weight was determined at the percentile line, using the World Health Organization (WHO) standards based on the gestational age, gender, and weight. We found no appreciable relation of fetal birth weight to the maternal dietary and fluid intakes, and the content of angiotensin II, aldosterone, or copeptin. However, birth weight correlated with increases in body adipose tissue in early pregnancy stages. Further, birth weight correlated positively with copeptin and adversely with angiotensin II in cord blood. We conclude that the present findings may be helpful in the assessment of a critical level of body adipose tissue in women of child-bearing age, above which the potential risk of macrosomia appears. The female population of child-bearing age needs a continual update on the nutritional knowledge to prevent modifiable maternal and fetal perinatal complications.

PSXV-15 Impact of maternal dietary energy excess and deficit prior to mating on size at birth and pre-weaning growth in prolific sheep.

PSXV-15 Impact of maternal dietary energy excess and deficit prior to mating on size at birth and pre-weaning growth in prolific sheep.

Associations Between Dietary Energy Density in Mothers and Growth of Breastfeeding Infants During the First 4 Months of Life

ABSTRACTObjectives: Despite the overwhelming impact of dietary energy density on the quality of the entire diet, no research has investigated dietary energy density among lactating mothers. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the influence of maternal dietary energy density during lactation on infant growth.Method: Three hundred healthy lactating mother–infant pairs were enrolled in the study. Detailed demographic information and dietary intake data were collected from the lactating mothers. Anthropometric features such as infant weight, height, and head circumference at birth and 2 and 4 months and mother's pregnancy and postpartum weight and height were derived from health center records. Data on physical activity were reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, infant weight, length, weight-for-height, and head circumference at birth, 2 months, and 4 months did not show significant differences among four dietary energy density categories (all p values > 0.01).Conclusions: Our study showed no association among quartiles of dietary energy density among lactating mothers and infant weight, length, weight-for-height, and head circumference growth by 2 and 4 months of age.

Maternal dietary energy levels affected the lipid deposition of offspring embryos at the end of the laying period of broiler breeder hens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the embryonic lipid deposition in yolk, embryo serum and tissues during the late laying period of Arbor Acres broiler breeder hens fed diets (21–60 weeks) with different levels of ME, 2.80 Mcal/kg (ND), 2.24 Mcal/kg (LD20) and 1.96 Mcal/kg (LD30) in a completely randomised experimental design. At 60 weeks of age, 100 fertile eggs in each group were collected and hatched. The results showed that low dietary energy decreased egg weight and egg content weight significantly, and embryo weight in LD20 was highest. Serum cholesterol level in LD20 (on each embryonic day) was significantly higher than those in other two groups. As the dietary energy level decreased, serum triglycerides level was decreased significantly, and serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was increased significantly. Serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was higher in LD30 than in other two groups on embryonic days 13, 15, 17 and 19, but higher in LD20 on embryonic day 21. In LD20, cholesterol level in the breast muscle and liver tissues and crude fat content in the breast muscle tissues were significantly higher than those in other two groups. LD30 got a lower cholesterol level in the thigh muscle tissues than ND. These results indicate that maternal dietary energy restriction directly affected lipid metabolism in embryos at the end of the laying period.

Moderately decreased maternal dietary energy intake during pregnancy reduces fetal skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in the pigs.

BackgroundMitochondria are of major importance in oocyte and early embryo, playing a key role in maintaining energy homeostasis. Epidemiological findings indicate that maternal undernutrition-induced mitochondrial dysfunction during pregnancy is associated with the development of metabolic disorders in offspring. Here, we investigated the effects of moderately decreased maternal energy intake during pregnancy on skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in fetal offspring with pig as a model.MethodsPregnant Meishan sows were allocated to a standard-energy (SE) intake group as recommended by the National Research Council (NRC; 2012) and a low-energy (LE) intake group. Fetal umbilical vein serum and longissimus muscle samples were collected for further analysis on day 90 of pregnancy.ResultsSow and fetal weights and the concentrations of serum growth hormone (GH) and glucose were reduced in LE group. Maternal LE diet decreased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and function such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PPARGC1A), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), β subunit of mitochondrial H+-ATP synthase (ATB5B), sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), and citrate synthase (CS). The protein expression of PPARGC1A and Sirt1, intracellular NAD+-to-NADH ratio, and CS activity was reduced in LE group, and accordingly, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content was decreased. Moreover, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) expression at both mRNA and protein levels and SOD and catalase (CAT) activities were reduced in LE group as well.ConclusionsThe observed decrease in muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defense capacity suggests that moderately decreased maternal energy intake during pregnancy impairs mitochondrial function in fetal pigs.

Moderately increased maternal dietary energy intake delays foetal skeletal muscle differentiation and maturity in pigs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of moderately increased maternal dietary energy intake during gestation on foetal skeletal muscle development and metabolism with pig as a model. Twelve primiparous purebred Large White sows (initial body weight 135.5±1.6kg) were allocated to one of two energy intake treatments: normal-energy-intake group (Con, 30.96MJ DE/day) as recommended by the National Research Council (NRC; 2012) and high-energy-intake group (HE, 34.15MJ DE/day). The nutritional treatments were introduced from mating to day 90 of gestation. On day 90 of gestation, foetuses were examined by morphological, biochemical and molecular analysis of the longissimus muscle. Umbilical vein serum hormones were measured. Sow body weight was increased in HE group compared with Con group (P<0.05), whereas foetal myofibre density was decreased (P<0.05). Meanwhile, protein concentration, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities and umbilical vein serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration were decreased in HE foetuses (P<0.05). Maternal HE diets decreased the mRNA abundance of muscle growth-related genes, myosin heavy-chain (MYH/MyHC) genes (MYH2 and MYH1) and insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin growth factor-binding protein 5 (P<0.05). Furthermore, the protein expressions of myogenic differentiation factor 1, myogenin and fast-MyHC isoforms were reduced in HE foetuses (P<0.05). Our results suggest that moderately increased maternal dietary energy intake delays the differentiation and maturation in skeletal muscle of the foetus on day 90 of gestation.

Maternal dietary energy rather than lysine intake during late gestation positively influences piglet birth weight

Animal Production Science (continuing Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture) publishes original research into applied agriculture including animal production, animal-plant interactions, pasture and fodder crops, field crops, extension and horticulture

Effect of maternal dietary energy and protein on live performance and yield dynamics of broiler progeny from young breeders

The objective of this research was to evaluate effects of female broiler breeder dietary ME and CP during rearing and dietary ME during early lay on broiler offspring performance and carcass yield dynamics. A factorial arrangement of treatments, with 2 ME levels, and 2 balanced protein levels from 3 to 24 wk, followed by 2 ME levels in the lay diets, and in the broilers, 2 sexes. A total of 1,635 broilers were housed in 32 pens, with 8 replicate pens according to maternal laying diet and sex. Maternal pullet diets were nested within pen (n = 9 to 14, depending on hatch rate). The broilers originated from 384 Ross 708 hens, which had been fed diets containing high (2,736 kcal/kg, HEREAR) or low ME (2,528 kcal/kg, LEREAR) combined with either high (15.3%, HPREAR) or low balanced protein (13.7% CP, LPREAR). Equal numbers of hens from each pullet treatment were then fed either a high (2,900 kcal/kg, HELAY) or low ME diet (2,800 kcal/kg, LELAY) containing 15% CP. Broilers were hatched from eggs collected at 28 wk of age, and fed identical diets. Broilers were individually weighed weekly. Serial dissections were conducted to evaluate yield breast muscle and abdominal fatpad dynamics. At 39 d, 180 broilers were processed to measure carcass yield. Female progeny of hens with the lowest CP intake during rearing (HEREAR × LPREAR) were lighter from 22 to 36 d of age than female offspring from hens that consumed more CP as pullets. We predicted the heaviest female progeny would result from an ME:CP ratio of 18.25 kcal/g in maternal pullet diets (P = 0.0063). Broiler breast yield increased when maternal EM:CP ratio increased after switching from pullet to laying diets. Hens fed HEREAR were fatter and had fatter progeny than LEREAR. Maternal diet, even during the pullet phase, influenced progeny growth and yield.

Effects of Maternal Dietary Energy Restriction on Fat Deposition of Offspring

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of maternal dietary energy restriction on growth performance, serum indices and fat deposition of offspring. A total of 400 female Arbor Acres (AA) broiler breeders were studied. These female birds involved three experimental treatments and a control group with normal dietary energy diets (ND, 11.7 MJ of ME • kg−1 during the laying). In treatments 2, 3 and 4, the energies of diets were 20%, 30% and 50% (LD20, LD30 and LD50) lower than those of the control, respectively. The study commenced at the beginning of the laying period when the total egg production reached 5% of the flock. All the broiler offspring were fed the same diets. The results showed that in low energy diets, offspring showed decreased 1-day-old weight, but 49-day-old weight was higher in LD20 diet (P<0.05). For offspring during days 1-49, the average daily gain (ADG) in LD20 group and the feed conversion ratio in LD50 group were improved as compared with those of the control (P<0.05). Compared with the control, abdominal fat percentage increased in 49-day-old offspring from LD30 diet (P<0.05); the fat content of breast muscle in offspring increased in broilers fed low energy diets (P<0.05). In 28-day-old offspring from breeders given LD20 and LD50 diets, liver fat percentages were higher compared with ND (P<0.05). The subcutaneous fat thickness in 28-day-old offspring from LD50 group and 49-day-old offspring from LD30 group was higher (P<0.05). On day 49, the serum cholesterol (CHO) of offspring from breeders fed LD20 diet and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of offspring from breeders fed LD50 diet reduced compared with those of the control (P<0.05). In addition, a higher triiodothyronine (T3) content in serum was found in offspring from broiler breeders given LD20 and LD30 diets (P<0.05). Serum thyroxine (T4) in offspring significantly decreased with the decrease of diet energy (P<0.05). In conclusion, to a certain extent, dietary energy restriction in breeders could improve growth performance and promote lipid metabolism of offspring.

Effect of intrauterine growth restriction during late pregnancy on the growth performance, blood components, immunity and anti-oxidation capability of ovine fetus

This study investigated the effect of intrauterine growth restriction on the growth performance, blood components, immunity and anti-oxidation capability of ovine fetus during late pregnancy. Six ewes out of 36 Mongolian ewes were slaughtered at d90 of pregnancy to serve as an initial comparison group. The remaining 29 animals were allocated to three different groups: Restricted Group1 (RG1, 0.18MJMEkgw−0.75d−1, n=12), Restricted Group2 (RG2, 0.33MJMEkgw−0.75d−1, n=9) and Control Group (CG, ad libitum, 0.67MJMEkgw−0.75d−1, n=8). At 140d of gestation, 6 fetuses in each groups were removed to determine the body weight, measurements and the umbilical cord blood was collected to analyze the blood components, CD4+, CD8+ T cells, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results indicated the fetal weight (P<0.01), body length (P<0.05), thoracic girth (P<0.05), abdomen circumference (P<0.05), curved crown-rump length (P<0.01), red blood cell count (P<0.01), hemoglobin (P<0.01), packed cell volume (P<0.01), CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (P<0.05), T-AOC (P<0.01), SOD (P<0.05) were decreased and mean platelet volume (P<0.05), red cell distribution width% (P<0.05), GSH-Px (P<0.05) and MDA (P<0.05) were greatly enhanced in RG1 group. For RG2, a decrease of fetal weight (P<0.01) and T-AOC (P<0.05) was found in relation to CG group. With the decrease of the maternal dietary energy density, the fetal severe malnourished anemia, decreased immune capability and antioxidant imbalance appeared. These perturbations may have significant implications on postnatal growth and health, and will allow more effective predictions of fetal response to harsh conditions.

Maternal Diet during Pregnancy Induces Gene Expression and DNA Methylation Changes in Fetal Tissues in Sheep

Studies in rats and mice have established that maternal nutrition induces epigenetic modifications, sometimes permanently, that alter gene expression in the fetus, which in turn leads to phenotypic changes. However, limited data is available on the influence of maternal diet on epigenetic modifications and gene expression in sheep. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of different maternal dietary energy sources on the expression of imprinted genes in fetuses in sheep. Ewes were naturally bred to a single sire and from days 67 ± 3 of gestation until necropsy (days 130 ± 1), they were fed one of three diets of alfalfa haylage (HY; fiber), corn (CN; starch), or dried corn distiller’s grains (DG; fiber plus protein plus fat). A total of 26 fetuses were removed from the dams and longissimus dorsi, semitendinosus, perirenal adipose depot, and subcutaneous adipose depot tissues were collected for expression and DNA methylation analyses. Expression analysis of nine imprinted genes and three DNA methyltransferase (DNMTs) genes showed significant effects of the different maternal diets on the expression of these genes. The methylation levels of CpG islands of both IGF2R and H19 were higher in HY and DG than CN fetuses in both males and females. This result is consistent with the low amino acid content of the CN diet, a source of methyl group donors, compared to HY and DG diets. Thus, results of this study provide evidence of association between maternal nutrition during pregnancy and transcriptomic and epigenomic alterations of imprinted genes and DNMTs in the fetal tissues.