title: Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy Affects Testicular and Bone Development, Glucose Metabolism and Response to Overnutrition in Weaned Horses Up to Two Years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnant mares and post-weaning foals are often fed concentrates rich in soluble carbohydrates, together with forage. Recent studies suggest that the use of concentrates is linked to alterations of metabolism and the development of osteochondrosis in foals. The aim of this study was to determine if broodmare diet during gestation affects metabolism, osteoarticular status and growth of yearlings overfed from 20 to 24 months of age and/or sexual maturity in prepubertal colts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four saddlebred mares were fed forage only (n = 12, group F) or cracked barley and forage (n = 12, group B) from mid-gestation until foaling. Colts were gelded at 12 months of age. Between 20 and 24 months of age, all yearlings were overfed (+140% of requirements) using an automatic concentrate feeder. Offspring were monitored for growth between 6 and 24 months of age, glucose homeostasis was evaluated via modified frequently sampled intra veinous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) at 19 and 24 months of age and osteoarticular status was investigated using radiographic examinations at 24 months of age. The structure and function of testicles from prepubertal colts were analyzed using stereology and RT-qPCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-weaning weight growth was not different between groups. Testicular maturation was delayed in F colts compared to B colts at 12 months of age. From 19 months of age, the cannon bone was wider in B vs F yearlings. F yearlings were more insulin resistant at 19 months compared to B yearlings but B yearlings were affected more severely by overnutrition with reduced insulin sensitivity. The osteoarticular status at 24 months of age was not different between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, nutritional management of the pregnant broodmare and the growing foal may affect sexual maturity of colts and the metabolism of foals until 24 months of age. These effects may be deleterious for reproductive and sportive performances in older horses.
authors.affiliation: UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.
authors.forename: Morgane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, EA2608, OeReCa, USC-INRA, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gautier
authors.affiliation: Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.affiliation: UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peugnet
authors.affiliation: IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahirel
authors.affiliation: Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lejeune
authors.affiliation: Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caudron
authors.affiliation: Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, EA2608, OeReCa, USC-INRA, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guenon
authors.affiliation: UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.
authors.forename: Sylvaine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Camous
authors.affiliation: UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarrade
authors.affiliation: IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wimel
authors.affiliation: Clinique Equine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serteyn
authors.affiliation: Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, EA2608, OeReCa, USC-INRA, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouraima-Lelong
authors.affiliation: UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chavatte-Palmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044343:Overnutrition; D011247:Pregnancy; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development*