The influence of maternal nutrient restriction in early to mid-pregnancy on placental and fetal development in sheep

Heasman, L.; Clarke, L.; Stephenson, Terence; Symonds, Michael

doi:10.1017/s0029665199000397

Cited by 77 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Various NR protocols in other animal species have yielded variable outcomes for fetal organ and total body weights. In sheep, mild and moderate maternal NR (30-50%) during early gestation (the period of maximal placental growth and the time comparable to the maternal NR period in our study) induced no decrease in fetal body weight, consistent with our findings [26]. As in our study, Osgerby et al [27] detected no differences in placental weight when ewes were exposed to 30% maternal NR during the first half of gestation.…”

Section: Maternal and Fetal Growth-maternalsupporting

confidence: 92%

The IGF Axis in Baboon Pregnancy: Placental and Systemic Responses to Feeding 70% Global Ad Libitum Diet

Li¹,

Levitz²,

Hubbard³

et al. 2007

Placenta

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Information on the influence of poor maternal nutrition on the regulation of responses to pregnancy, placental and fetal growth and development is critical to a better understanding of pregnancy physiology and pathophysiology. We determined normal changes and effects of controlled and monitored moderate nutrient restriction (NR) (global nutrient intake reduced to 70% of food consumed by mothers feeding ad libitum from 0.16 to 0.5 of gestation) in the baboon, on important hematological, biochemical, and hormonal indices of fetal growth and placental function. Serum IGF-I:IGFBP-3 ratio was lower in pregnant than control non-pregnant baboons feeding ad libitum. Serum concentrations of total and free IGF-I were decreased in NR mothers compared with controls (p < 0.05). The decrease in fetal IGF-I did not reach significance (p = 0.057). Serum IGF-I: IGFBP-3 ratio was decreased by NR in both mothers and fetuses. Maternal serum IGF-II was unchanged by NR. Placental IGF-I mRNA and protein abundance were similarly reduced whereas IGF-II mRNA increased in placental tissue of NR compared to control mothers. Systemic (maternal) and local (placental) IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 mRNA and protein abundance were unchanged by NR. Type 1 IGF receptor protein in the syncytiotrophoblast increased in NR. Type 2 IGF receptor protein was present in the stem villi core, and decreased after NR. We conclude that moderate NR in this important non-human primate model significantly disrupts the maternal and placental IGF-IGFBP axis and influences placental expression of this key system at the gene and protein level. Changes observed appear to be directed toward preserving placental growth.

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Section: Maternal and Fetal Growth-maternalsupporting

confidence: 92%

The IGF Axis in Baboon Pregnancy: Placental and Systemic Responses to Feeding 70% Global Ad Libitum Diet

Li¹,

Levitz²,

Hubbard³

et al. 2007

Placenta

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“…This may be a reflection of the nutrient constraint caused by lactation during the majority of the gestation in these dams, despite the attempts for compensation during the dry period. Heasman et al (1999) found similar results in nutrient restricted sheep. The nutritional challenge was followed by an enhancement of the fetal component of the placenta when nutritional level was restored, leading to a disproportionally larger placental to fetal weight ratio and thus a reduced placental efficiency.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Evidence for placental compensation in cattle

Eetvelde

Kamal

Hostens

et al. 2016

Animal

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Prenatal development is known to be extremely sensitive to maternal and environmental challenges. In this study, we hypothesize that body growth and lactation during gestation in cattle reduce nutrient availability for the pregnant uterus, with consequences for placental development. Fetal membranes of 16 growing heifers and 27 fully grown cows of the Belgian Blue (BB) breed were compared to determine the effect of body growth on placental development. Furthermore, the fetal membranes of 49 lactating Holstein Friesian (HF) cows and 27 HF heifers were compared to study the impact of dam lactation compared to dam body growth. After parturition, calf birth weight and body measurements of dam and calf were recorded, as well as weight of total fetal membranes, cotyledons and intercotyledonary membranes. All cotyledons were individually measured to calculate both the surface of each individual cotyledon and the total cotyledonary surface per placenta. Total cotyledonary surface was unaffected by breed or the breed × parity interaction. Besides a 0.3 kg lower cotyledonary weight ( P = 0.007), heifer placentas had a smaller total cotyledonary surface compared with placentas of cows (0.48 ± 0.017 v. 0.54 ± 0.014 m 2 , respectively, P < 0.001). Within the BB breed, fetal membranes of heifers had a 1.5 kg lower total weight and 1.0 kg lower intercotyledonary membrane weight ( P < 0.005) compared with cows. A cotyledon number of only 91 ± 5.4 was found in multiparous BB dams, while growing BB heifers had a higher cotyledon number (126 ± 6.7, P < 0.001), but a greater proportion of smaller cotyledons (<40 cm 2 ). Within the HF breed, no parity effect on intercotyledonary membrane weight, cotyledon number and individual cotyledonary surface was found. Placental efficiency (calf weight/total cotyledonary surface) was similar in HF and BB heifers but significantly higher in multiparous BB compared with multiparous HF dams (106.0 ± 20.45 v. 74.3 ± 12.27 kg/m 2 , respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a seasonal effect on placental development was found, with winter and spring placentas having smaller cotyledons than summer and fall placentas ( P < 0.001). Main findings of the present study are that lactation and maternal growth during gestation entail a comparable nutrient diverting constraint, which might alter placental development. However, results suggest that the placenta is able to manage this situation through two potential compensation mechanisms. In early pregnancy the placenta might cope by establishing a higher number of cotyledons, while in late gestation a compensatory expansion of the cotyledonary surface is suggested to meet the nutrient demand of the fetus.

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“…Placental weight is the major factor determining lamb birth weight (Mellor, 1983;Heasman et al, 1999). Peak placental weight is attained by day 80 of gestation (Heasman et al, 1999) and is sensitive to nutrition between days 40 and 80 of gestation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Peak placental weight is attained by day 80 of gestation (Heasman et al, 1999) and is sensitive to nutrition between days 40 and 80 of gestation. In the current study the high and low herbage allowances resulted in moderate and mild undernutrition, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of allowance and frequency of allocation of deferred herbage, and grass silage feed value, when offered to ewes in mid-gestation on ewe and lamb performance and subsequent herbage yield

Keady¹,

Hanrahan²

2009

Animal

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The effects of (i) herbage allowance, (ii) frequency of allocation and (iii) grass silage feed value on ewe and lamb performance were studied in mid-gestation ewes. Furthermore, the effects of (i) herbage allowance, (ii) frequency of allocation and (iii) grazing date and their interactions on subsequent herbage yield and feed value were also evaluated. Swards, which had a cut of silage removed on 6 September, received fertiliser nitrogen (34 kg/ha) for extended (deferred) grazing between 6 December and 1 February. Two grass silages differing in feed value were ensiled either precision chopped or in big bales from predominantly perennial ryegrass swards, respectively. In experiment 1, a completely randomised study involving 120 crossbred mid-gestation ewes (Belclare 3 Scottish Blackface) that had been mated in October was undertaken to evaluate the effects of extended grazed herbage allowance (1.0 and 1.8 kg dry matter (DM)/day), frequency of herbage allocation (daily and twice weekly) and grass silage feed value (low and medium) on ewe and subsequent lamb performance. The six diets were offered from days 63 to 120 of gestation. From day 120 of gestation to parturition all ewes were housed and offered the medium feed value silage ad libitum. All ewes received 19 kg concentrate prior to lambing. Increasing herbage allowance increased forage intake ( P , 0.05), lamb birth weight ( P , 0.01), weaning weight ( P , 0.05) and growth rate from birth to weaning ( P , 0.05), decreased herbage utilisation ( P , 0.05) and tended to increase ewe condition score at lambing ( P 5 0.06). Frequency of herbage allocation or grass silage feed value did not alter ( P . 0.05) ewe or subsequent lamb performance. In experiment 2, the effect of extended grazed herbage allowance (1.0 and 1.8 kg DM/ewe daily), frequency of allocation (daily and twice weekly) and grazing date (6 to 12 December, 27 December to 3 January and 17 to 23 January) on herbage yield at two harvest dates (27 April and 25 May) was examined in a split plot design study consisting of 72 plots. Delaying grazing date decreased herbage yield ( P , 0.01) whilst delaying harvest date increased herbage yield ( P , 0.05). Frequency of herbage allocation did not alter ( P . 0.05) subsequent herbage yield. It is concluded that for ewes in mid-gestation 1.0 kg of low feed value silage DM had the same feed value, as determined by weaned lamb weight, as 1.3 kg herbage DM allowance. Each 1-day delay in grazing date reduced herbage DM yield by 54.2 kg/ha.

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The influence of maternal nutrient restriction in early to mid-pregnancy on placental and fetal development in sheep

Cited by 77 publications

References 29 publications

The IGF Axis in Baboon Pregnancy: Placental and Systemic Responses to Feeding 70% Global Ad Libitum Diet

The IGF Axis in Baboon Pregnancy: Placental and Systemic Responses to Feeding 70% Global Ad Libitum Diet

Evidence for placental compensation in cattle

The effects of allowance and frequency of allocation of deferred herbage, and grass silage feed value, when offered to ewes in mid-gestation on ewe and lamb performance and subsequent herbage yield

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