Transcriptome profile in the skeletal muscle of cattle progeny as a function of maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation

The Effects of Prenatal Diet on Calf Performance and Perspectives for Fetal Programming Studies: A Meta-Analytical Investigation

“…Previous studies demonstrated that nutritional insults from mid to late gestation may reduce the myonuclei and muscle DNA of ovine fetal muscle through effects on satellite cells’ proliferation and incorporation, impairing fetal muscle growth [ 79 ]. Evaluating the transcriptional profile of skeletal muscle, Carvalho et al [ 7 ] found 187 and 123 genes down- and up-regulated, respectively, in response to maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation. In summary, the molecular analysis that was performed showed favorable responses in the offspring hypertrophic processes promoted by the maternal protein supplementation in the mid-gestation phase [ 7 ].Therefore, this available evidence is consistent with the responses verified in the present study.…”

“…Evaluating the transcriptional profile of skeletal muscle, Carvalho et al [ 7 ] found 187 and 123 genes down- and up-regulated, respectively, in response to maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation. In summary, the molecular analysis that was performed showed favorable responses in the offspring hypertrophic processes promoted by the maternal protein supplementation in the mid-gestation phase [ 7 ].Therefore, this available evidence is consistent with the responses verified in the present study.…”

“…However, an additional factor, which consists of prenatal nutrition, can also reshape the animal development trajectory and cause persistent long-term consequences—a concept known as fetal programming [ 3 ]. Maternal nutrition affects the nutrient partitioning [ 3 ] and acts as a signal-promoting epigenetic modification [ 4 ], which causes alterations in gene expression [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Thereafter, in the postnatal life, these effects induced by the intrauterine conditions may be expressed as alterations in the offspring growth [ 8 , 9 ], in the relative masses of muscle and adipose tissue (lean-to-fat ratio) [ 10 ], and the meat yield [ 11 ] and quality [ 12 ].…”

Effects of Maternal Protein Supplementation at Mid-Gestation of Cows on Intake, Digestibility, and Feeding Behavior of the Offspring

“…Mid-gestation (when treatments were applied) is the intrauterine development window in which fetal myogenesis occurs [ 51 ]. Furthermore, it is well documented in the scientific literature that feeding strategies such as protein supplementation may act as a key modulator of muscle fiber hyperplasia [ 8 , 10 ], which in turn increases the offspring’s growth potential in post-natal life [ 11 , 52 ]. This could lead to greater nutritional requirements for offspring from well-nourished dams [ 13 ], increasing their intake level proportional to their growth potential, which explains the greater DMI for CON offspring.…”

“…It has been well documented that alterations in the prenatal environment affect the productivity of the offspring later in life [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Moreover, the maternal nutrition plans during pregnancy affect not only the offspring’s body weight [ 12 ], but also their post-natal growth rate, growth efficiency, and body gain composition [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], which in turn, may lead to changes in their nutritional requirements [ 13 ].…”