title: Influence of the nutritional deficit of foetal survival and growth and plasma metabolites in rabbit does.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted in order to determine the influence of nutritional deficit on foetal survival and growth in rabbits does. All females were mated within 12 h of parturition and all the young were removed at that time. In experiment 1, females were fed close to ad libitum (C1, n = 20), or restricted to 100% (M1, n = 20) or 75% (R1, n = 19) of the maintenance energy requirement. On d 28 of gestation, foetal mortality was similar in the 3 groups, whereas foetal weight and protein content of the litters were reduced in feed-restricted groups (P < 0.001). In experiment 2, females were fed ad libitum (C2, n = 12) or were restricted to the same level as in R1 (R2, n = 13). Blood samples were collected on d 17 and 28 of gestation before and after (1 and 3 h) a standardized meal. Pre- and postprandial concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and urea were lower in the R2 than in the C2 females (P < 0.01). Preprandial concentrations of glucose were similar in both groups at d 17, and higher in the R2 groups than in the C2 group at d 28. The postprandial concentration of glucose was higher 1 h after the meal and lower 3 h after the meal in the R2 group (P < 0.01). Progesterone was significantly higher in the R2 females at d 17 (P < 0.001). These results suggest that nutrient deficit may be responsible for reduced foetal growth in concurrently pregnant and lactating does.
authors.affiliation: INRA, Station de Recherches Cunicoles, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fortun
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prunier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lebas
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005502:Food; D005508:Food Deprivation; D005865:Gestational Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011817:Rabbits; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D011374:Progesterone; D014508:Urea