Tissue Glycogen Levels in Dams and Fetuses as Affected by Fasting and Refeeding Pregnant Sows1

Abstract

Nineteen Landrace sows mated to Landrace boars were randomly assigned, on d 91 of pregnancy, to three groups: (1) control (six sows)--fed standard 13% protein corn-soybean meal gestation diet at 1.82 kg/d to d 112 of pregnancy; (2) 4-d fast (seven sows)--fed standard gestation diet to d 94 of pregnancy, fasted from d 95 to 98 of pregnancy and then refed a semipurified fat-free diet ad libitum until d 112 of pregnancy, and (3) 8-d fast (six sows)--treated the same as groups 2, except that the fast began on d 91 and extended through d 98 of pregnancy. The fat-free diet consisted of dextrose and soybean meal and was fortified with minerals and vitamins. On d 112 of pregnancy, all fetuses were removed by Caesarean section and determinations were made of fetal body and liver weights, fetal liver and gastrocnemius muscle glycogen concentrations, and maternal uterus and peritoneal adipose tissue glycogen levels. Sows in groups 2 and 3 consumed more (P less than .01) average daily feed during the refeeding period than did the control sows. Fasting and refeeding failed to affect maternal or fetal tissue glycogen concentration, or fetal body or liver weight. Average sow tissue glycogen concentrations were .23 and 3.0 mg/g tissue for peritoneal adipose tissue and uterus, respectively. Average fetal liver and gastrocnemius muscle glycogen concentrations were, 87 and 62 mg/g tissue, respectively. Average fetal body and liver weights were 1,287 and 39.5 g/fetus, respectively. We conclude that fasting followed by refeeding of a fat-free diet to pregnant sows during late gestation does not increase maternal or fetal tissue glycogen content and appears to be of no value in enhancing pig survival in early postnatal life.

Maternal Malnutrition and Offspring Sex Determine Juvenile Obesity and Metabolic Disorders in a Swine Model of Leptin Resistance

“…These results support the validity of the Iberian pig as a robust, amenable and reliable translational model for studies on nutrition-associated diseases. In the present study, the effects of prenatal programming were found after feeding the Iberian sows with diets more moderate than reported in other swine models [20-22], like we have previously found in dietary treatments for inducing obesity and associated disorders at juvenile and adult stages [4,5]. These unique features can be related to the background of exposure to harsh environments and food scarcity for generations of the Iberian pig.…”

Effects of gestation and transition diets, piglet birth weight, and fasting time on depletion of glycogen pools in liver and 3 muscles of newborn piglets1

“…In support of this. Yen et al (1982) demonstrated that fasting late pregnant sows for 4 or 8 d (ending d 98 of gestation) did not reduce fetal glycogen pools.…”

Maternal Tissue Repartitioning in Pregnant Primiparous Swine in Response to Restriction of Calories or Feed

“…Fetal tissue glycogen stores and plasma glucose are generally considered to be refractory to maternal energy intake in swine (28)(29)(30); induction of maternal alloxan diabetes does increase fetal glycogen reserves (3 1). The higher plasma glucose is suggestive of a diabetogenic effect of the high-protein-lowcarbohydrate diet.…”