How does intrauterine crowding affect locomotor performance in newborn pigs? A study of force generating capacity and muscle composition of the hind limb

Hole, Charlotte Vanden; Cleuren, Silke G. C.; Ginneken, Chris Van; Prims, Sara; Ayuso, Miriam; Cruchten, Steven Van; Aerts, Peter

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0209233

Cited by 14 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Thirty-two piglets (Topigs 20 x German Piètrain) were selected from 10 litters in a local farm in October 2016. The same selection procedure was followed as in Vanden Hole et al [12, 14]. To reduce the number of experimental animals, the piglets selected for Vanden Hole et al [14] were also used in this study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The same selection procedure was followed as in Vanden Hole et al [12, 14]. To reduce the number of experimental animals, the piglets selected for Vanden Hole et al [14] were also used in this study. The average duration of farrowing among the 10 selected litters was 4h53 ± 3h38 (mean ± SD, here and throughout).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present study compares the force generating capacity (FGC) and muscle composition of the front limb in L and N piglets. In a previous report [14], our group investigated whether the force deficit in L piglets is caused by a lower FGC of the hind limb. We found that, at the level of the hind limb, L piglets indeed have a lower absolute FGC due to a smaller muscle volume.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From these measurements, the maximal isometric FGC (F iso-max , both absolute and relative to BW) is calculated. To check whether the conclusions from our study on the hind limb [14], that L piglets are not only more slender, but also smaller (with shorter legs), are also valid for the front limb, we also consider the length of the front limb in addition to body mass (BM) and body mass index (BMI).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since their abundance is largely determined in utero , it is possible that muscle composition differs between L and N piglets (for extensive reviews on these topic see [10, 24]). As such, in our previous study on the hind limb [14], we investigated the composition of one of the major knee extensors, m. vastus lateralis. The composition of this muscle was not different for L and N piglets, but since results on muscle composition can differ greatly among muscles, we found it important to investigate the composition of an important extensor muscle of the front limb, m. triceps caput longum, by immunohistochemical fiber typing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does intrauterine crowding affect the force generating capacity and muscle composition of the piglet front limb?

et al. 2019

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In the pig, intrauterine competition (IUC) greatly affects postnatal traits, such as birth weight, but also locomotor capacities. In a previous study, our group discovered a lower motor performance in piglets with a low birth weight and low vitality (L piglets), compared to piglets with a normal birth weight and normal vitality (N piglets). In order to explain the force deficit causing this reduced motor performance, in a subsequent study, we investigated whether this deficit in L piglets was caused by a lower force generating capacity (FGC) of the extensors of the hind limb and/or a lower number of type II (fast-twitch) fibers in m. vastus lateralis. L piglets had a lower absolute FGC, but surprisingly, a higher relative FGC (to birth weight) in the hind limb, compared to N piglets. In addition, we found no differences in fiber composition of m. vastus lateralis. In the present study, we assessed whether this higher relative FGC is a common feature for front and hind limb locomotor muscles of L piglets. To that end, the physiological cross-sectional area of the main extensor muscles of the front limb was calculated from their volume and fiber length, in order to calculate both the absolute and the relative FGC. By immunohistochemical staining of m. triceps brachii caput longum, the percentage of type II (fast-contracting) fibers could be determined. Similar to the results of the hind limb, we found a smaller absolute FGC, but a larger relative FGC in the front limb of L piglets, compared to N piglets. In addition, m. triceps brachii caput longum did not have a different muscle fiber composition in L and N piglets. As such, we can conclude that IUC affects the locomotor muscles in the front and hind limb in a similar way and that the observed force deficit in L piglets cannot be explained by a different force generating capacity or a lower percentage of type II muscle fibers.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does intrauterine crowding affect the force generating capacity and muscle composition of the piglet front limb?

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Offspring of hyper prolific sows: Immunity, birthweight, and heterogeneous litters

Oliviero

2022

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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In Europe, in the last 3 decades, there has been a constant increase in litter size due to the use of superior maternal line genetics. Those sows giving birth to more piglets than their average number of functional teats are identified as hyperprolific sows (HPS). The large number of piglets born within a litter implies not only a challenge for their access to vital resources like colostrum and milk but has a direct effect on their average birth weight and heterogeneity. These conditions are detrimental to piglets' vitality in the first hours of life and also to their immunity development. An exceptionally large number of growing fetuses in HPS leads to intrauterine crowding and consequently to an increased number of piglets suffering from intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), which put piglets at a high risk of mortality after birth and up to later stages of life. Increased heterogeneity of birth weight within large litters increases the competition for colostrum intake, with the smaller piglets being less competitive and vital, and therefore affecting negatively their immunity. Low birth weight, long interval to reach the udder, and long duration of farrowing, all have negative effects on piglets' immunoglobulin absorption. In HPS litters, colostrum management should be focused on low birth weight piglets, anticipating their impaired capabilities associated with ingesting adequate colostrum, by shortening the time to reach the udder and reducing competition among piglets. The vitality of neonate piglets, especially low in birth weight or affected by IUGR should be enhanced to improve their body temperature and their early life stage energy metabolism.

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Preweaning performance in intrauterine growth‐restricted piglets: Characteristics and interventions

Ginneken

Ayuso

Bockstal

et al. 2022

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is frequently observed in pig production, especially when using highly prolific sows. IUGR piglets are born with low body weight and shape indicative of differences in organ growth. Insufficient uteroplacental nutrient transfer to the fetuses is the leading cause of growth restriction in the pig. Supplementing the sow's gestation diet with arginine and/or glutamine improves placenta growth and functionality and consequently is able to reduce IUGR incidence. IUGR piglets are at higher risk of dying preweaning and face higher morbidity than their normal-weight littermates. A high level of surveillance during farrowing and individual nutrient supplementation can reduce the mortality rates.Still, these do not reverse the long-term consequences of IUGR, which are induced by persistent structural deficits in different organs. Dietary interventions periweaning can optimize performance but these are less effective in combating the metabolic changes that occurred in IUGR, which affect reproductive performance later in life. IUGR piglets share many similarities with IUGR infants, such as a poorer outcome of males. Using the IUGR piglet as an animal model to further explore the structural and molecular basis of the long-term consequences of IUGR and the potential sex bias could aid in fully understanding the impact of prenatal undernutrition and finding solutions for both species and sexes.

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How does intrauterine crowding affect locomotor performance in newborn pigs? A study of force generating capacity and muscle composition of the hind limb

Cited by 14 publications

References 56 publications

Does intrauterine crowding affect the force generating capacity and muscle composition of the piglet front limb?

Does intrauterine crowding affect the force generating capacity and muscle composition of the piglet front limb?

Offspring of hyper prolific sows: Immunity, birthweight, and heterogeneous litters

Preweaning performance in intrauterine growth‐restricted piglets: Characteristics and interventions

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