title: Poor maternal nutrition inhibits muscle development in ovine offspring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal over and restricted nutrition has negative consequences on the muscle of offspring by reducing muscle fiber number and altering regulators of muscle growth. To determine if over and restricted maternal nutrition affected muscle growth and gene and protein expression in offspring, 36 pregnant ewes were fed 60%, 100% or 140% of National Research Council requirements from d 31 ± 1.3 of gestation until parturition. Lambs from control-fed (CON), restricted-fed (RES) or over-fed (OVER) ewes were necropsied within 1 d of birth (n = 18) or maintained on a control diet for 3 mo (n = 15). Semitendinosus muscle was collected for immunohistochemistry, and protein and gene expression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with CON, muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) increased in RES (58%) and OVER (47%) lambs at 1 d of age (P < 0.01); however at 3 mo, CSA decreased 15% and 17% compared with CON, respectively (P < 0.01). Compared with CON, muscle lipid content was increased in OVER (212.4%) and RES (92.5%) at d 1 (P < 0.0001). Muscle lipid content was increased 36.1% in OVER and decreased 23.6% in RES compared with CON at 3 mo (P < 0.0001). At d 1, myostatin mRNA abundance in whole muscle tended to be greater in OVER (P = 0.07) than CON. Follistatin mRNA abundance increased in OVER (P = 0.04) and tended to increase in RES (P = 0.06) compared with CON at d 1. However, there was no difference in myostatin or follistatin protein expression (P > 0.3). Phosphorylated Akt (ser473) was increased in RES at 3 mo compared with CON (P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, maternal over and restricted nutrient intake alters muscle lipid content and growth of offspring, possibly through altered gene and protein expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Joseline S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zinn
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Govoni
keywords: Growth; Maternal nutrition; Muscle development; Sheep