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Maternal undernutrition during the pre- and post-conception periods in twin-bearing hairsheep ewes: effects on fetal and placental development at mid-gestation

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Abstract

To evaluate the effects of pre- and post-conception undernutrition (UN) on fetal and placental development at mid-gestation, 28 Katahdin × Pelibuey multiparous ewes were blocked by weight and assigned to the following four dietary treatments (n = 7 each): ewes fed 100% (control) or 60% of their nutritional requirements 30 days before mating (UNPre), 50 days after mating (UNPost) or during both periods (UNB). Four twin-bearing ewes were selected per treatment at day 50 post-conception and then slaughtered at day 75 of gestation to analyze their fetuses. Control fetuses were heavier (P < 0.05) than UNPost and UNB fetuses in 14.6 and 9.4%, respectively. Organ weights as percentage of the fetal weight (except for liver) and morphometric measurements (except for abdominal girth) were similar between control and UN fetuses (UNPre, UNPost, and UNB). Placental mass was heavier (P < 0.05) in control ewes than UNB ewes, but not relative to ewes of other treatments. The number of placentomes per ewe and placental efficiency were unaffected by UN treatments. Compared to control, only UNB ewes exhibited variations (P < 0.05) in the proportion of placentomes, specifically for type A (+13.8%) and B (−12.6%). Placentomes of type A and B had lower weight, length, and width of placentas in UNPost and UNB ewes than placentas of control ewes (P < 0.05). Overall results indicate that fetal and placental development of ewes carrying twins is mainly altered when nutritional restriction occurs simultaneously before conception and during the first third of pregnancy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexico, and is part of the research work conducted by the second author during his doctoral studies. We thank Angel Mejia, Yolanda Osorio, and Samantha Perard for their assistance in experimental procedures, data collection, and care of animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, 21705, Valle de Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

    Ulises Macías-Cruz, Ricardo Vicente-Pérez, Abelardo Correa-Calderón & Leonel Avendaño-Reyes

  2. Departamento de Nutrición Animal, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

    Miguel Mellado

  3. Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, 35230, Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico

    Cesar A. Meza-Herrera

Authors
  1. Ulises Macías-Cruz
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  2. Ricardo Vicente-Pérez
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  3. Miguel Mellado
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  4. Abelardo Correa-Calderón
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  5. Cesar A. Meza-Herrera
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  6. Leonel Avendaño-Reyes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leonel Avendaño-Reyes.

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All experimental procedures and care of animals were in accordance with the Mexican Official Norm of Specific Techniques for the Production, Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NOM-062-ZOO-1999).

Conflict of interest statement

The authors acknowledge that there is no conflict of interest, either financial or personal.

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Macías-Cruz, U., Vicente-Pérez, R., Mellado, M. et al. Maternal undernutrition during the pre- and post-conception periods in twin-bearing hairsheep ewes: effects on fetal and placental development at mid-gestation. Trop Anim Health Prod 49, 1393–1400 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1339-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1339-z

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