Document Detail


The effects of maternal health and body condition on the endocrine responses of neonatal foals.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19165937     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
REASONS FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY: Chronic and acute alterations in maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy alter pancreatic and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in the offspring, before and after birth. Little is known about these effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether maternal nutrient restriction caused by natural infection with Streptococcus equi altered endocrine function in neonatal foals born from mares fed a maintenance or high plane of nutrition throughout pregnancy. METHODS: Ten primiparous mares received either a diet to maintain moderate body condition score (Moderate, n = 5) or a near ad libitum feeding regime to maintain a high body condition score (High, n = 5) throughout pregnancy. All mares inadvertently became infected with Streptococcus equi in mid gestation and lost approximately 10% body mass. RESULTS: Maternal insulin and glucose concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) during, and one month following, the weight loss period. High mares weighed more (P < 0.05) at parturition than Moderate mares; all foals were healthy. Gestational age, foal bodyweights, placental and clinical parameters after birth were no different between the 2 groups. Foal plasma cortisol and glucose responses to exogenous adrenocorticotrophic hormone and insulin, respectively, were similar for both groups. Insulin concentrations during glucose tolerance test were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in foals from Moderate than High mares and compared with foals studied previously from healthy, well-fed mares, suggesting that the beta cell sensitivity to glucose was enhanced in Moderate. CONCLUSION: Acute nutrient restriction in mid gestation caused by maternal illness and inappetence, superimposed on a maintenance feed intake throughout pregnancy, enhanced insulin secretion to glucose in foals. Nutritional programming of pancreatic beta cells, but not the HPA axis, appeared to depend on the level of nutrition before and after the weight loss period. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Disturbances in neonatal pancreatic beta cell function programmed during pregnancy may predispose foals to metabolic problems in later life.
Authors:
J C Ousey; A L Fowden; S Wilsher; W R Allen
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Equine veterinary journal     Volume:  40     ISSN:  0425-1644     ISO Abbreviation:  Equine Vet. J.     Publication Date:  2008 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-01-23     Completed Date:  2009-02-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0173320     Medline TA:  Equine Vet J     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  673-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine Equine Fertility Unit, Mertoun Paddocks, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9BH, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology*
Animals
Animals, Newborn / metabolism*
Blood Glucose / metabolism
Body Composition / physiology
Female
Gestational Age
Horse Diseases / epidemiology,  etiology,  metabolism,  physiopathology*
Horses
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology
Insulin / blood
Male
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / metabolism,  physiopathology,  veterinary*
Pregnancy Outcome / veterinary
Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
Streptococcal Infections / metabolism,  physiopathology,  veterinary*
Streptococcus equi / pathogenicity*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Blood Glucose; 11061-68-0/Insulin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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