title: Effect of maternal nutrition and days of gestation on pituitary gland and gonadal gene expression in cattle.
abstract: This study investigated effects of maternal overnutrition on gonadal development and pituitary-gonadal gene expression in cattle fetuses at mid- and late-gestation. Twenty-seven multiparous dry cows were fed either high (ad libitum, H) or moderate (M) intake of the same diet. Twelve cows from H (n=6) and M (n=6) intake carrying females fetuses were euthanized at 199 and 268d of gestation (DG; n=3 for H or M on each DG). Fifteen cows from H (n=6) and M intake (n=9) carrying male fetuses were euthanized at 139, 199, and 241 DG (n=2 for H and n=3 for M on each DG). Fetal gonads and pituitary gland were sampled for gene expression and histological analyses. Sex-specific responses to maternal intake were observed. Primordial and total follicle numbers were lower in fetal ovaries from H than in M intake cows. These results were the reverse for preantral and antral follicles. Volumetric proportion and diameter of seminiferous cord were lower in fetal testis of H than M intake cows. The expression level of FSHB was greater in pituitary gland of the female fetus from H compared with M intake cows, irrespective of DG, whereas LHB gene expression did not differ. In males, FSHB and LHB gene expression levels were similar between maternal intake groups. Fetal ovarian expression of P450 aromatase, StAR, BMPR2, TGFBR1, GDF9, FSHR, Bax, and CASP3 genes were higher in H than in M intake cows, irrespective of DG. Fetal testicular expression of StAR, HSD17B3, IGF1, IGF2, and IGF1R genes was higher in M than in H intake cows. The differences in gene expression for steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and apoptosis may explain the distinct pattern of follicular growth between offspring of M and H intake cows. By contrast, the lower volumetric proportion, diameter, and length of seminiferous cord may relate to decreased gene expression in fetal testis from H intake cows. In conclusion, maternal H intake seems to affect fetal ovarian follicular growth and number of follicles, which may affect the size of ovarian reserve in their offspring. In male fetus, maternal H intake seems to disturb testicular development and may have implications on sperm production. The underlying mechanism of differential gene expression and the effect on offspring reproductive potential should be the focus of further research, especially considering larger sample size, reducing the chance for type I errors.
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil; School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4067 Australia; Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Center for Animal Science, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4062 Australia.
authors.forename: M M D C A
authors.initials: MMDCA
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4067 Australia.
authors.forename: M R S
authors.initials: MRS
authors.lastname: Fortes
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Marcondes
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Rotta
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: T R S
authors.initials: TRS
authors.lastname: Gionbeli
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Valadares Filho
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Gado de Leite, Juiz de Fora, Brazil 36038-330.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Center for Animal Science, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4062 Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: sfacioni@ufv.br.
authors.forename: S E F
authors.initials: SEF
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D044343:Overnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010298:Parity; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: bovine species; fetal development; overnutrition; real-time PCR; reproduction