Gene expression in the arcuate nucleus of heifers is affected by controlled intake of high- and low-concentrate diets1

Abstract

It was hypothesized that a high-concentrate diet fed during early calfhood alters the expression of genes within the arcuate nucleus that subserve reproductive competence. Beef heifers (n = 12) were weaned at approximately 3 mo of age, and after acclimation, were allocated randomly to 1 of 2 nutritional groups: 1) High Concentrate/High Gain (HC/HG), a high concentrate diet fed to promote a gain of 0.91 kg/d; or 2) High Forage/Low Gain (HF/LG), a forage-based diet fed to promote a gain of 0.45 kg/d. Experimental diets were fed under controlled intake for 91 d. At the end of 91 d, heifers were slaughtered by humane procedures, blood samples were collected, brains were removed, liver weights were determined, and rumen fluid was collected for VFA analyses. Tissue blocks containing the hypothalamus were dissected from the brains, frozen, and cut using a cryostat, and frozen sections were mounted on slides. Tissue from the arcuate nucleus (ARC) was dissected from sections for mRNA extraction. Microarray analysis was used to assess genome-wide transcription in the ARC using a 60-mer oligonucleotide 44K bovine expression array. The ADG was greater (P < 0.001) in heifers fed the HC/HG diet than in heifers fed the HF/LG diet. At slaughter, mean propionate to acetate ratios in the ruminal fluid and liver weight as a percentage of BW were increased (P < 0.005) in HC/HG compared with HF/LG heifers. Mean serum concentrations of insulin (P < 0.05) and IGF-1 (P < 0.005) were greater, and leptin tended to be greater (P = 0.1) in HC/HG heifers compared with HF/LG heifers. Approximately 345 genes were observed to be differentially expressed in the HC/HG group with approximately two-thirds of the genes exhibiting increased expression in the HC/HG group. Genes exhibiting decreased expression in the HC/HG group included agouti-related protein and neuropeptide Y, products of which are known to regulate feed intake and energy expenditure. Functional annotation of enriched Gene Ontology terms indicates that a number of biological processes within the hypothalamus are affected by consumption of high-concentrate diets, including those related to control of feed intake, regulation of cellular metabolic processes, receptor and intracellular signaling, and neuronal communication. In summary, dietary treatments shown previously to accelerate the timing of pubertal onset in heifers increased ruminal propionate, promoted enhanced metabolic hormone secretion, and altered gene expression in the ARC.

Reciprocal changes in leptin and NPY during nutritional acceleration of puberty in heifers

“…Previous studies have revealed that transcriptional and morphological alterations within the hypothalamic NPY network are involved in the sexual maturation of heifers (Alves et al 2011, Allen et al 2012. Results from the current study provide further evidence that the .…”

“…Using similar nutritional models, it has been demonstrated previously that the expression of NPY mRNA in the ARC was decreased in prepubertal heifers that gained BW at a relatively high rate (Allen et al 2012). Furthermore, the proportion of GnRH neurons in close proximity to NPY fibers in the preoptic area and mediobasal hypothalamus is reduced in heifers with increased BW gain (Alves et al 2011).…”

Endogenous and dietary lipids influencing feed intake and energy metabolism of periparturient dairy cows

“…On the contrary, feeding a highconcentrate diet to beef heifers decreased the expression of hypothalamic NPY and AgRP in comparison to a high-forage diet [60]. Thus, dietary constitutes and energy balance affect the transcription of central signals regulating feed intake and energy expenditure in ruminants.…”

A glimpse of the future in animal nutrition science. 2. Current and future solutions

“…Many experiments have been conducted to quantify the requirements of energy, protein, and minerals of pregnant animals (Bell et al, 2005;Ferrell, 1991;Ferrell et al, 1976) and the impact of early calfhood nutrition on their reproductive development (Allen et al, 2012;Alves et al, 2015;Amstalden et al, 2014;Cardoso et al, 2014a;Cardoso et al, 2014b). However, not until recently have scientists inquired about controlling the type and quality of the nutrition during fetus development and its long-lasting impacts on the growth and development of the newborn through adulthood: the fetal programming theory.…”