Effect of Overfeeding Shetland Pony Mares on Embryonic Glucose and Lipid Accumulation, and Expression of Imprinted Genes.
Nicky M M d' FonsecaCharlotte M E GibsonDavid A van DoornEllen RoelfsemaMarta de Ruijter-VillaniTom A E StoutPublished in: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI (2021)
Maternal overfeeding is associated with disturbances in early embryonic epigenetic reprogramming, leading to altered expression of imprinted genes and nutrient transporters, which can affect both fetal and placental development and have lasting effects on the health of resulting offspring. To examine how maternal overfeeding affects the equine embryo, Shetland pony mares were fed either a high-energy (HE: 200% of net energy requirements) or maintenance (control) diet. Mares from both groups were inseminated, and day-seven embryos were recovered and transferred to recipients from the same or the alternate group. The expression of a panel of imprinted genes, glucose and amino acid transporters, and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) were determined in conceptus membranes after recovery on day 28 of gestation (late pre-implantation phase). The expression of nutrient transporters was also assessed in endometrium recovered from recipient mares immediately after conceptus removal. In addition, glucose uptake by day-28 extra-embryonic membranes, and lipid droplet accumulation in day-seven blastocysts were assessed. Maternal overfeeding resulted in elevated expression of imprinted genes (IGF2, IGF2R, H19, GRB10, PEG10 and SNRPN), DNMTs (DNMT1 and DNMT3B), glucose (SLC2A1), fructose (SLC2A5) and amino acid (SLC7A2) transporters following ET from an HE to a control mare. Expression of amino acid transporters (SLC1A5 and SLC7A1) was also elevated in the endometrium after ET from HE to control. Maternal overfeeding did not affect lipid droplet accumulation in blastocysts, or glucose uptake by day-28 membranes. It remains to be seen whether the alterations in gene expression are maintained throughout gestation and into postnatal life.
Keyphrases
- poor prognosis
- gene expression
- amino acid
- dna methylation
- binding protein
- genome wide
- public health
- birth weight
- long non coding rna
- high throughput
- type diabetes
- physical activity
- cell proliferation
- adipose tissue
- weight loss
- blood pressure
- pregnant women
- high fat diet
- risk assessment
- body mass index
- signaling pathway
- single molecule
- gestational age
- genome wide identification
- weight gain
- simultaneous determination
- preterm birth