Maternal Undernutrition Affects Fetal Thymus DNA Methylation, Gene Expression, and, Thereby, Metabolism and Immunopoiesis in Wagyu (Japanese Black) Cattle.

We aimed to determine the effects of maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) on the DNA methylation and gene expression patterns associated with metabolism and immunopoiesis in the thymuses of fetal Wagyu cattle. Pregnant cows were allocated to two groups: a low-nutrition (LN; 60% nutritional requirement; = 5) and a high-nutrition (HN; 120% nutritional requirement, = 6) group, until 8.5 months of gestation.

DNA Methylation of Genes Participating in Hepatic Metabolisms and Function in Fetal Calf Liver Is Altered by Maternal Undernutrition during Gestation.

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of maternal undernutrition (MUN) on epigenetic modification of hepatic genes in Japanese Black fetal calves during gestation. Using a previously established experimental design feeding the dams with 60% (LN) or 120% (HN) of their global nutritional requirements during the 8.5-month gestational period, DNA methylation in the fetal liver was analyzed with reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS).

Expression and differential posttranscriptional regulation of the elongation factor 1 alpha 1 gene in endometrial caruncle and intercaruncle of Japanese Black cattle at early and mid-gestation stages.

The elongation factor 1 alpha 1 (EEF1A1), an isoform of EEF1A, is one of the most abundant cytoplasmic proteins and an important component of the translational machinery. We investigated the relative expression, alternative polyadenylation (APA), and changes in poly(A) tail length of EEF1A1 mRNA in the endometrial caruncle (CAR) and intercaruncle (ICAR) at early and mid-gestation in Japanese Black cattle. The relative EEF1A1 mRNA expression levels in the CAR were the highest on Gestation day 20 and were significantly decreased at mid-gestation.

Maternal Nutrient Restriction Disrupts Gene Expression and Metabolites Associated with Urea Cycle, Steroid Synthesis, Glucose Homeostasis, and Glucuronidation in Fetal Calf Liver.

This study aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal undernutrition (MUN) on liver growth and metabolism in Japanese Black fetal calves (8.5 months in utero) using an approach that integrates metabolomics and transcriptomics. Dams were fed 60% (low-nutrition; LN) or 120% (high-nutrition; HN) of their overall nutritional requirements during gestation.

Maternal Nutrition During Gestation Alters Histochemical Properties, and mRNA and microRNA Expression in Adipose Tissue of Wagyu Fetuses.

We hypothesized that maternal low or high nutrition would give unique effects to morphological and molecular dynamics in adipose tissue of fetus of fatty breed Wagyu (Japanese Black) cattle which produce highly marbled beef. This study aimed to determine the effects of maternal energy intake in Wagyu cows, during gestation on fetal adipose tissue development, histochemical properties, and gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression. Cows were allocated to one of two nutritional energy groups: 120% (HIGH) or 60% nutritional requirements of (LOW).

Maternal Undernutrition during Pregnancy Alters Amino Acid Metabolism and Gene Expression Associated with Energy Metabolism and Angiogenesis in Fetal Calf Muscle.

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying maternal undernutrition (MUN)-induced fetal skeletal muscle growth impairment in cattle, the muscle of Japanese Black fetal calves at 8.5 months in utero was analyzed by an integrative approach with metabolomics and transcriptomics. The pregnant cows were fed on 60% (low-nutrition, LN) or 120% (high-nutrition, HN) of their overall nutritional requirement during gestation.

Effects of low and high levels of maternal nutrition consumed for the entirety of gestation on the development of muscle, adipose tissue, bone, and the organs of Wagyu cattle fetuses.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of high and low levels of energy intake during the entire gestation period on the skeletal muscle development, organ development, and adipose tissue accumulation in fetuses of Wagyu (Japanese Black) cows, a breed with highly marbled beef. Cows were allocated to a high-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 120% of the nutritional requirement) or low-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 60% of the nutritional requirement). The cows were artificially inseminated with semen from the same sire, and the fetuses were removed by cesarean section at 260 ± 8.

Effect of restricted suckling on the superovulatory response and reproductive performance in postpartum Japanese black cows.

The reproductive performance of postpartum cows is affected by factors such as suckling and nutrition. We investigated the effect of a restricted suckling period on the superovulatory response and the fertility after flushing in postpartum Japanese Black cows. Forty-seven postpartum cows were used in this study.

Concentration of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in bovine peripheral blood during pregnancy.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a hemopoietic cytokine with a primary role in placental physiology. Gene expression of M-CSF in the bovine endometrium shows a temporal upward trend during early and mid pregnancy. This study determined the plasma M-CSF levels during pregnancy using ELISA.

Effect of total cholesterol, glucose and blood urea nitrogen on embryo quality in post-partum superovulated suckling Japanese Black cattle.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of blood metabolites on embryo quality in post-partum suckling Japanese Black cattle. Blood samples were taken from 23 cows 30 days before, at and 30 days after parturition. Cows were synchronized 40 or 41 days after calving (day 0) and divided into three groups: control ( = 6), gonadotropin-releasing hormone ([GnRH] = 10) and estradiol benzoate ([EB] = 7).

The development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the determination of estrone and estradiol-17beta in bovine blood plasma based on the same homologous combination with antiserum and steroid-enzyme conjugate.

The development of a sensitive enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for the determination of estrone (E1) and estradiol-17beta (E2 beta) in bovine plasma is described. The assay is a homologous double-antibody EIA with E2beta 17hemisuccinate (HS) as hapten for the immunoreactive reagent. The antiserum was raised against E2beta 17HS bovine serum albumin conjugate in the rabbit, and E2beta 17HS-horseradish peroxidase was used as steroid-enzyme conjugate.

The bovine Mx1 gene: characterization of the gene structure, alternative splicing, and promoter region.

The Mx gene encodes an antiviral protein and is induced by type 1 interferons (IFNs). In this study, a new bovine Mx gene (designated Mx1B) was isolated from the endometrial cDNA library of the early pregnant cow. Although the Mx1B cDNA contained a single open reading frame (ORF) the same as the known Mx1, the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and 5' coding region of Mx1B were rather different from the corresponding regions of Mx1.