Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of hormonal status and metabolic changes of restricted ewes during late pregnancy on their fetal growth and development

  • Article
  • Published:
Science in China Series C: Life Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of hormonal status and metabolic changes of restricted ewes during late pregnancy on the ovine fetus growth and development. One hundred Mongolian ewes, synchronized for oestrus and mated, were divided into three groups and offered 0.175 MJME·kgw−0.75·d−1 (Restricted Group 1, RG1), 0.33 MJME·kgw−0.75·d−1 (Restricted Group 2, RG2) and ad libitum access to feed (Control Group, CG) during their late pregnancy respectively. The results suggested that with the supply of exogenous energy decreasing during late pregnancy, maternal body weight and net body weight loss in RG2 and RG1 were lower than those of CG (Ps0.01). The insulin and IGF-1 concentrations of ewes in RG2 and RG1 tended to be lower than those of CG (P>0.05), but the GH concentrations in RG2 and RG1 were enhanced and there was significant difference between RG1 and CG on d 120 of gestation (P<0.05). The glucose concentration of ewes in RG2 and RG1 was decreased throughout the feed restriction period, and the differences were observed between RG1 and CG on d 120 of gestation (P<0.05). In addition, the nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and total amino acid (TAA) concentrations of ewes in RG2 tended to increase, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). However, the NEFA and FAA concentrations of ewes in RG1 were reduced from d 90 to d 120 of gestation, then enhanced from d 120 to d 140 of gestation. During the late pregnancy, with the supply of nutrition decreasing, the negatively physiological and biochemical maternal reactions to restriction became worse, which significantly reduced the average lamb birth weight and daily growth rate of fetus in RG2 (P<0.05) and RG1 (P<0.01).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McMillen I C, Coulter C L, Adams M B, et al. Fetal growth restriction: Adaptations and consequences. Reproduction, 2001, 122: 195–204, 11467970, 10.1530/rep.0.1220195, 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlvFWjtL8%3D

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Robinson J J, Sinclair K D, McEvoy T G. Nutritional effects on fetal growth. Anim Sci, 1999, 68: 315–331

    Google Scholar 

  3. Osgerby J C, Wathes D C, Howard D, et al. The effect of maternal undernutrition on ovine fetal growth. J Endocrinol, 2002, 173: 31–141, 10.1677/joe.0.1730131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gao F, Hou X Z, Zhao Z G, et al. The effect of different undernutrition received by ewes at late pregnancy on compensatory growth of their lambs. J Inner Mongolia Agric Univ (in Chinese), 2002, 4: 18–21

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wu S Q, Hou X Z, Ao C J, et al. Effect of restricted feeding in late pregnancy of sunit ewes on the birth weight. Acta Zoonutr Sin (in Chinese), 2003, 15: 59–62

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gluckman P D, Hanson M. Developmental origins of disease paradigm: A mechanistic and evolutionary perspective. Rev Pediatr Res, 2004, 56: 311–317, 10.1203/01.PDR.0000135998.08025.FB

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yambayamba E S K. Hormonal status, metabolic changes, and resting metabolic rate in beef heifers undergoing compensatory growth. J Anim Sci, 1996, 74: 57–69, 8778113, 1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xhtlelsbg%3D

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hayden J M, Williams J E, Collier R J. Plasma growth hormone, insulin like growth factor, insulin, and thyroid hormone association with body protein and fat accretion in steers undergoing compensatory gain after dietary energy restriction. J Anim Sci, 1993, 71: 3327–3338, 8294284, 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXltlGrsQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hornick J L, Eenaeme C V, Minet V, et al. Different periods of feed restriction before compensatory growth in Belgian blue bulls: Plasma metabolites and hormones. J Anim Sci, 1998, 76: 260–271, 9464907, 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlsVKguw%3D%3D

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bauer M K, Breier B H, Harding J E, et al. The fetal somatotropic axis during long term maternal undernutrition in sheep: Evidence for nutritional regulation in utero. Endocrinology, 1995, 136: 1250–1257, 7867579, 10.1210/en.136.3.1250, 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXjvFCjtLY%3D

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gallaher B W, Breier B H, Keven C L, et al. Fetal programming of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-3: Evidence for an altered response to undernutrition in late gestation following exposure to periconceptual undernutrition in the sheep. J Endocrinol, 1998, 159: 501–508, 9834467, 10.1677/joe.0.1590501, 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXhtFarsA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Breier B H. Regulation of growth in ruminants by the somatotropic axis. In: Engelhardt W V, Leonard-Marek S, Breves G, et al. Ruminant Physiology: Digestion, Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction. Stuttgart: Ferdinand Enke Verlag Publ, 1995. 451–473

    Google Scholar 

  13. Shu P C. Study on partitioning of proteins (amino acids) in white cashmere goats fed diets with different dietary metabolizable glucose levels. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Huhhot: Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, 2003. 6–30

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bell A W. Pregnancy and fetal metabolism. In: Forbes J M, France J. Quantitative Aspects of Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism. Wallingford: CAB International, 1993. 405–431

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sibanda L M. Effect of feeding varying amounts of a grain/forage diet during late gestation and lactation on the performance of matebele goats. J Agric Sci, 1997, 128: 469–477, 10.1017/S0021859697004395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sibanda L M. Effects of a low plan of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on the performance of matebele does and their kids. Small Ruminant Res, 1999, 32: 243–250, 10.1016/S0921-4488(98)00191-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Edwards L J, McMillen I C. Impact of maternal undernutrition during the periconceptional period, fetal number, and fetal sex on the development of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis in sheep during late gestation. Biol Reprod, 2002, 66: 1562–1569, 11967224, 10.1095/biolreprod66.5.1562, 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XjtFWnsLY%3D

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Yuen B S, Owens P C, McFarlane M E, et al. Circulating leptin concentrations are positively related to leptin messenger RNA expression in the adipose tissue of fetal sheep in the pregnant ewe fed at or below maintenance energy requirements during late gestation. Biol Reprod, 2002, 67: 911–916, 12193402, 10.1095/biolreprod.101.002931, 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmsV2jsbk%3D

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Brockman R P, Laarveld B. Hormone regulation of metabolism in ruminants: A review. Livestock Production Sci, 1986, 14: 313–334, 10.1016/0301-6226(86)90012-6, 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XkvFWnsLc%3D

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Chilliard Y, Bocquier F, Doreau M. Digestive and metabolic adaptations of ruminants to undernutrition and consequence on reproduction. Reprod Nutr Dev, 1998, 8: 131–152, 10.1051/rnd:19980201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ponter A A, Douar C, Mialot J P, et al. Effect of underfeeding postpartum charolais beef cows on composition plasma nonesterified fatty acids. Anim Sci, 2000, 71: 243–252, 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXnslersrg%3D

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Animal Science and Animal Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, 010018, China

    Gao Feng & Hou XianZhi

  2. College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, 010018, China

    Liu YingChun

Authors
  1. Gao Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hou XianZhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liu YingChun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hou XianZhi.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation ( NSFC) of China (Grant Nos. 30460095 and 30360074), Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (20060129008) and Scientific Research Foundation for Doctor of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University (BJ06-36)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gao, F., Hou, X. & Liu, Y. Effect of hormonal status and metabolic changes of restricted ewes during late pregnancy on their fetal growth and development. SCI CHINA SER C 50, 766–772 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-007-0098-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-007-0098-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation