Maternal obesity induces sustained inflammation in both fetal and offspring large intestine of sheep.

Background: Both maternal obesity and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are increasing. It was hypothesized that maternal obesity induces an inflammatory response in the fetal large intestine, predisposing offspring to IBDs.

Methods: Nonpregnant ewes were assigned to a control (Con, 100% of National Research Council [NRC] recommendations) or obesogenic (OB, 150% of NRC) diet from 60 days before conception.

Maternal obesity accelerates fetal pancreatic beta-cell but not alpha-cell development in sheep: prenatal consequences.

Maternal obesity affects offspring weight, body composition, and organ function, increasing diabetes and metabolic syndrome risk. We determined effects of maternal obesity and a high-energy diet on fetal pancreatic development. Sixty days prior to breeding, ewes were assigned to control [100% of National Research Council (NRC) recommendations] or obesogenic (OB; 150% NRC) diets.

Effect of maternal fatness on fetal steroids and semi-quantitative real-time PCR expression of receptor genes in sheep.

Sexual differentiation of the brain occurs between d 30 and 70 in the fetal lamb. The objective of this experiment was to determine if maternal fatness affects fetal steroid production and expression of their receptors which may ultimately alter endocrine systems postnatally. Fetuses were collected from ewes fed at either 100% (Control; n=5) or 150% (Fat; n=6) of NRC recommendations from 60 d prior to breeding until collection at 75 d of gestation.

Maternal undernutrition induces differential cardiac gene expression in pulmonary hypertensive steers at high elevation.

Pulmonary hypertension, characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and right ventricular hypertrophy, is caused by decreased atmospheric oxygen at high altitude. We hypothesized that maternal undernutrition programs right ventricle gene expression and sensitivity to increasing PAP at high altitude (2,183 m). On day 30 of gestation, forty Angus x Gelbvieh cows received diets to induce either gain (Control) or loss of body weight (Restricted) until day 125 of gestation.

AMP-activated protein kinase signalling pathways are down regulated and skeletal muscle development impaired in fetuses of obese, over-nourished sheep.

Maternal obesity and over-nutrition give rise to both obstetric problems and neonatal morbidity. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of maternal obesity and over-nutrition on signalling of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in fetal skeletal muscle in an obese pregnant sheep model. Non-pregnant ewes were assigned to a control group (Con, fed 100% of NRC nutrient recommendations, n = 7) or obesogenic group (OB, fed 150% of National Research Council (NRC) recommendations, n = 7) diet from 60 days before to 75 days after conception (term 150 days) when fetal semitendinosus skeletal muscle (St) was sampled.

Relationship between kinase phosphorylation, muscle fiber typing, and glycogen accumulation in longissimus muscle of beef cattle with high and low intramuscular fat.

The objective of this study was to examine the association of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) with glycogen content in bovine muscle and their links with intramuscular fat (IMF) and muscle fiber type composition. Five steers with high intramuscular fat (High IMF, IMF content is 5.71 +/- 0.

Maternal nutrient restriction affects properties of skeletal muscle in offspring.

Maternal nutrient restriction (NR) affects fetal development with long-term consequences on postnatal health of offspring, including predisposition to obesity and diabetes. Most studies have been conducted in fetuses in late gestation, and little information is available on the persistent impact of NR from early to mid-gestation on properties of offspring skeletal muscle, which was the aim of this study. Pregnant ewes were subjected to 50% NR from day 28-78 of gestation and allowed to deliver.

Dietary supplementation with safflower seeds differing in fatty acid composition differentially influences serum concentrations of prostaglandin F metabolite in postpartum beef cows.

Synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) is elevated following parturition and exerts divergent effects on the re-establishment of fertile estrous cycles in cows. The objective of these experiments was to determine if oil seed supplements differing in fatty acid composition differentially influence serum concentrations of the specific PGF2alpha metabolite, PGFM. Safflower seed supplements were formulated to provide 5% of dry-matter intake as fat.

Maternal nutrient restriction reduces concentrations of amino acids and polyamines in ovine maternal and fetal plasma and fetal fluids.

Amino acids and polyamines are essential for placental and fetal growth, but little is known about their availability in the conceptus in response to maternal undernutrition. We hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction reduces concentrations of amino acids and polyamines in the ovine conceptus. This hypothesis was tested in nutrient-restricted ewes between Days 28 and 78 (experiment 1) and between Days 28 and 135 (experiment 2) of gestation.

Maternal undernutrition from early- to mid-gestation leads to growth retardation, cardiac ventricular hypertrophy, and increased liver weight in the fetal sheep.

Early gestation is critical for placentomal growth, differentiation, and vascularization, as well as fetal organogenesis. The fetal origins of adult disease hypothesis proposes that alterations in fetal nutrition and endocrine status result in developmental adaptations that permanently change structure, physiology, and metabolism, thereby predisposing individuals to cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine disease in adult life. Multiparous ewes were fed to 50% (nutrient restricted) or 100% (control fed) of total digestible nutrients from Days 28 to 78 of gestation.