Periconceptional Undernutrition in Sheep Affects Adult Phenotype Only in Males

[摘要] Periconceptional undernutrition (PCUN) in sheep alters fetal growth and metabolism and postnatal growth regulation, but effects on adult body composition are unknown. We investigated the effects of PCUN on adult phenotype. Singleton lambs of ewes fed normally (N,n=17) or undernourished before (UN-61-0 d,n=23), before and after (UN-61-30 d,n=19), or after (UN-2-30d,n=17) mating (d0) were weighed at birth, 12 weeks, and intermittently to adulthood. At the age of 3-4 years, body composition was assessed by dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry followed bypostmortemexamination. Compared with N animals, male, but not female, offspring of all UN groups had greater % fat mass (all UN versus N:9±1versus2±1%,P<0.001) and perirenal fat (544±36versus222±44 g,P=0.002), and proportionately smaller hearts (4.5±0.1versus5.2±0.2 g·kg−1), lungs (9.1±0.2versus10.6±0.5 g·kg−1), and adrenals (0.06±0.002versus0.08±0.003 g·kg−1). UN males also had larger testes (726±21versus545±32 g,P=0.007), but UN females had smaller ovaries (2.7±0.08versus3.4±0.4 g,P=0.01). Changes were independent of birth weight or postnatal growth velocity. Brief PCUN has sex-specific effects on adult phenotype, predominantly affecting males, which may contribute to adverse metabolic outcomes.

[学科分类] 内分泌与代谢学