scholarly journals Nutrient partitioning during adolescent pregnancy

Reproduction ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 347-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Wallace ◽  
D Bourke ◽  
P Da Silva ◽  
R Aitken
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Gravid Uterus ◽  
Maternal Body ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Nutrient Partitioning

Human adolescent mothers have an increased risk of delivering low birth weight and premature infants with high mortality rates within the first year of life. Studies using a highly controlled adolescent sheep paradigm demonstrate that, in young growing females, the hierarchy of nutrient partitioning during pregnancy is altered to promote growth of the maternal body at the expense of the gradually evolving nutrient requirements of the gravid uterus and mammary gland. Thus, overnourishing adolescent dams throughout pregnancy results in a major restriction in placental mass, and leads to a significant decrease in birth weight relative to adolescent dams receiving a moderate nutrient intake. High maternal intakes are also associated with increased rates of spontaneous abortion in late gestation and, for ewes delivering live young, with a reduction in the duration of gestation and in the quality and quantity of colostrum accumulated prenatally. As the adolescent dams are of equivalent age at the time of conception, these studies indicate that nutritional status during pregnancy rather than biological immaturity predisposes the rapidly growing adolescents to adverse pregnancy outcome. Nutrient partitioning between the maternal body and gravid uterus is putatively orchestrated by a number of endocrine hormones and, in this review, the roles of both maternal and placental hormones in the regulation of placental and fetal growth in this intriguing adolescent paradigm are discussed. Impaired placental growth, particularly of the fetal component of the placenta, is the primary constraint to fetal growth during late gestation in the overnourished dams and nutritional switch-over studies indicate that high nutrient intakes during the second two-thirds of pregnancy are most detrimental to pregnancy outcome. In addition, it may be possible to alter the nutrient transport function of the growth-restricted placenta in that the imposition of a catabolic phase during the final third of pregnancy in previously rapidly growing dams results in a modest increase in lamb birth weight.

scholarly journals The Role of Placental Homeobox Genes in Human Fetal Growth Restriction

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padma Murthi ◽  
Gayathri Rajaraman ◽  
Shaun Patrick Brennecke ◽  
Bill Kalionis
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Fetal Growth Restriction ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is an adverse pregnancy outcome associated with significant perinatal and paediatric morbidity and mortality, and an increased risk of chronic disease later in adult life. One of the key causes of adverse pregnancy outcome is fetal growth restriction (FGR). While a number of maternal, fetal, and environmental factors are known causes of FGR, the majority of FGR cases remain idiopathic. These idiopathic FGR pregnancies are frequently associated with placental insufficiency, possibly as a result of placental maldevelopment. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of abnormal placental development in idiopathic FGR is, therefore, of increasing importance. Here, we review our understanding of transcriptional control of normal placental development and abnormal placental development associated with human idiopathic FGR. We also assess the potential for understanding transcriptional control as a means for revealing new molecular targets for the detection, diagnosis, and clinical management of idiopathic FGR.

scholarly journals POS0737 LOW PRECONCEPTIONAL COMPLEMENT LEVEL IS RELATED WITH ADVERSE OBSTETRIC OUTCOME IN A MULTICENTRIC COHORT OF PREGNANCY IN PATIENTS WITH APS AND APL POSITIVITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 619.2-620
Author(s):  
D. Lini ◽  
C. Nalli ◽  
L. Andreoli ◽  
F. Crisafulli ◽  
M. Fredi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Complement Activation ◽  
Pregnancy Complications ◽  
Antiphospholipid Antibodies ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Obstetric Outcome ◽  
Complement Level ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Background:The role of complement in the antiphospholipid (aPL) related pathology has been widely studied in animal models. Antiphospholipid antibodies can induce fetal loss in experimental animals but mice deficient in specific complement components (C4, C3, C5) appear somehow protected. In addition, in pregnant mice injected with aPL, antibody deposition has been found at decidual level causing focal necrosis, apoptosis and neutrophil infiltrates and supporting aPL pathogenetic potential. On the other hand, human studies did find hypocomplementemia associated to pregnancy complications in patients with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). These results, however, are not unanimously confirmed and, in addition, some studies only show increased levels of complement activation products (i.e. Bb) and not decreased levels of C3 and/or C4. A recently study focusing on complement level in early pregnancy and before pregnancy showed a significant correlation with pregnancy complications and loss in a large cohort of primary APS.Objectives:To investigate if the simple detection of low C3 and/or C4 could be considered a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcome in APS and aPL carriers pregnancies.Methods:We performed a multicentric study including patients from 10 Italian and 1 Russian Centers. Data on pregnancies in women with primary APS (n=434) and asymptomatic carriers with persistently positive aPL but not fulfilling clinical criteria for APS (n=218) were retrospectively collected. Serum C3 and C4 levels were evaluated by nephelometry; hypocomplementemia was defined by local laboratory reference values. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad.Results:Preconceptional complement levels and gestational outcome were available for 107 (25%) pregnancies in APS out of 434 and for 196 (90%) pregnancies in aPL carriers women out of 218. In pregnancies with low preconceptional C3 and/or C4, a significantly higher prevalence of pregnancy losses was observed (p=0.019). A subgroup analysis focusing on triple aPL positive patients was also performed. Preconceptional low C3 and/or C4 levels were found to be associated with an increased rate of pregnancy loss (p = 0.027) in this subgroup also. Otherwise, adverse pregnancy outcomes in single or double aPL positive women were not related to preconception complement levels (p = 0.44) (Table 1). Of note, all the pregnancy losses in the triple positive group occurred in patients treated with low dose aspirin and low molecular weight heparin from the time of positive pregnancy test.Conclusion:Our findings confirm that decreased complement levels before pregnancy are associated with increased risk of adverse outcome. This has been seen only in in women with triple aPL positivity, indeed single or double positivity does not show this trend. Complement levels are cheap and easy to be measured therefore they could represent a useful aid to identify patients at increased risk of pregnancy loss. test positivity.References:[1]De Carolis S, et al. Complementemia and obstetric outcome in pregnancy with antiphospholipid syndrome. Lupus (2012) 21:776–8.[2]Kim MY, et al. Complement activation predicts adverse pregnancy outcome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid antibodies. Ann Rheum Dis (2018) 77:549–55.[3]Fredi M, et al. Risk Factors for Adverse Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Women With Confirmed aPL Positivity: Results From a Multicenter Study of 283 Pregnancies. Front Immunol. 2018 May 7;9:864.Triple aPL positivitySingle or double aPL positivityGestational outcomeLow C3/C4 (n=49)Normal C3/C4(n=17)pLow C3/C4 (n=57)Normal C3/C4(n=165)pTerm live birth (>37w)15 (31%)6 (35%)ns34 (60%)110 (67%)nsPreterm live birth (≤37w)22 (45%)11 (65%)ns15 (26%)38 (23%)nsPregnancy losses (abortion and miscarriages)12 (24%)0 (0%)0.0278 (14%) 17 (10%)nsDisclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals 27 Defining a robust sow: swine nutrition perspective on reproduction and lactation

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 13-13
Author(s):  
Joel M DeRouchey ◽  
Mike D Tokach ◽  
Robert D Goodband ◽  
Jason C Woodworth ◽  
Steve S Dritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mammary Development ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Embryo Survival

Abstract Improvements in modern sow prolificacy have markedly increased the number of pigs weaned, thus the ability of sows to provide nutrients to support fetal growth and milk production has been enhanced. The goals of the gestation nutrition program consist of meeting the nutrient requirements for maintenance and growth and for adequate conceptus development, while managing body condition. Early gestation represents the best opportunity for replenishing body reserves, whereas in late gestation, both estimated protein deposition and energy requirement are exponentially increased and directed towards fetal growth and mammary development. Increased feed intake after breeding has been presumed to be detrimental to embryo survival; however, data with modern line sows demonstrates to feed thin sows to recover body condition as quickly as possible while avoiding feed deprivation immediately after breeding. Importance of body condition scoring remains unchanged: feed thin sows to bring back to adequate body condition and prevent over-conditioned sows at farrowing. A recent meta-analysis showed increasing late gestation feed intake seems to modestly improve piglet birth weight by 28 g per piglet in gilts and sows. Also, recent findings in gestating sows suggest modern genotypes have improved feed efficiency and propensity for growth. Therefore, increasing energy intake during late gestation has a modest effect on piglet birth weight and a negative effect on stillborn rate. Historically, lactation catabolism impacted subsequent reproductive performance of sows, particularly in first-parity. However, contemporary sows appear to be increasingly resistant to the negative effects of lactational catabolism. Even so, continued emphasis on maximizing lactation feed intake is critical to support milk production and prevent excessive lean tissue mobilization. Research data suggests that ad libitum feeding and offering lactation diets during the wean-to-estrus interval is not needed. Modern genetic sow lines appear to be more robust from a nutritional perspective than in the past.

scholarly journals Thrombophilias and adverse pregnancy outcome – A confounded problem!

2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (01) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nard G Janssen ◽  
Jakoba J Kalk ◽  
William M Hague ◽  
Gustaaf A Dekker ◽  
Willem J Kist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Fetal Growth Restriction ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Fetal Loss ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Abruptio Placentae ◽  
Recurrent Fetal Loss ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

SummaryIt was the objective of this study to analyse the influence of confounders, such as ethnicity, severity of illness and method of testing, in articles concerning the still moot relationship of thrombophilias to adverse pregnancy outcome (APO). Relevant casecontrol studies were identified using Medline and EMBASE databases between 1966 and 2006. Search terms were recurrent fetal loss, intrauterine fetal death, preeclampsia, HELLP-syndrome, eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, abruptio placentae, combined with maternal thrombophilias. Data was extracted from the articles per subgroup ofAPO regardless of confounder. These subgroups were tested if they fulfilled the heterogeneity testing criterion (I2 > 35%) to weigh the influence of the confounder. Confounders were selected and examined with Mantel- Haenszel method. Increased thrombophilia prevalence was confirmed in most adverse pregnancy outcomes. Ethnicity, genetic testing only and severity of illness were confounders in the various forms of APO. Stronger relationships between factor V Leiden and severity of disease were found in 2nd and 3rd trimester than 1st trimester recurrent fetal loss, in preeclampsia with: blood pressure ≥160/110 mmHg than ≥140/90 mmHg; proteinuria ≥5 grams per day than < 5 grams; onset before than after 28 weeks, in fetal growth restriction <3rd percentile than <5th, than <10th, and in earlier occurrence of abruptio placentae than 3rd trimester. In conclusion, reports on the prevalence of maternal thrombophilias and APO are influenced by various confounders, which are not always appropriately analysed. The differences we have identified reflect the differential impact of these confounders. These data emphasise the importance of more uniform research.

scholarly journals Accelerated Fetal Growth in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Elenis ◽  
Anna-Karin Wikström ◽  
Marija Simic
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background: Preterm birth (occurring before 37 completed weeks of gestation) affects 15 million infants annually, 7.5% of which die due to related complications. The detection and early diagnosis are therefore paramount in order to prevent the development of prematurity and its consequences. So far, focus has been laid on the association between reduced intrauterine fetal growth during late gestation and prematurity. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between accelerated fetal growth in early pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 69 617 singleton pregnancies without congenital malformations and with available biometric measurements during the first and second trimester. Estimation of fetal growth was based on measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD) at first and second trimester scan. We investigated the association between accelerated fetal growth and preterm birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation. The outcome was further stratified into very preterm birth (before 32 weeks of gestation) or moderate preterm birth (between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation) and medically induced or spontaneous preterm birth and was further explored. Results: The odds of prematurity were increased among fetuses with accelerated BPD growth (> 90th centile) estimated between first and second ultrasound scan, even after adjustment for possible confounders (aOR 1.36; 95% CI 1.20-1.54). The findings remained significant what regards moderate preterm births but not earlier births. Regarding medically induced preterm birth, the odds were found to be elevated in the group of fetuses with accelerated growth in early pregnancy (aOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.11-1.63). On the contrary, fetuses with delayed fetal growth exhibited lower risk for both overall and spontaneous preterm birth.Conclusions: Fetuses with accelerated BPD growth in early pregnancy, detected by ultrasound examination during the second trimester, exhibited increased risk of being born preterm. The findings of the current study suggest that fetal growth in early pregnancy should be taken into account when assessing the likelihood for preterm birth.

AB0105 CHECKPOINT MOLECULES AND PREGNANCY: ENHANCED SPD-L1 PREDICTS FLARE IN RA PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1351.1-1352
Author(s):  
A. L. Stefanski ◽  
K. Eriksson ◽  
A. Zbinden ◽  
P. Villiger ◽  
F. Förger
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Preterm Delivery ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Healthy Pregnancy ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a female-predominant autoimmune disease that may affect women in childbearing age, making family planning an important issue for their life. There is a need for better understanding the mechanisms modulating RA in pregnancy and develop prognostic marker regarding adverse pregnancy outcome such as reduced birth weight and preterm delivery. As a crucial organ for peripheral tolerance during pregnancy, the placenta is expressing constitutively programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), major ligand of the inhibitory receptor PD-1 (Zhang et al, 2015). We hypothesize that the PD-1 pathway plays a central inhibitory role in regulating the course of the disease and pregnancy outcome in RA.Objectives:To investigate the relationship between PD-1 pathway, disease activity during pregnancy/postpartum and pregnancy outcome in RA.Methods:We measured soluble PD-1 and PD-L1 levels by ELISA in serum samples of 27 pregnant RA patients and 25 healthy pregnant controls at different time points during pregnancy and postpartum. As for pregnancy controls, we analyzed serum samples from 28 non-pregnant RA patients and 18 non-pregnant healthy controls. The data was analyzed in correlation with disease activity (measured by DAS28-CRP) and pregnancy outcome (defined as preterm delivery and birth weight). Statistics were calculated by Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon test, correlations by Spearman rank test.Results:In healthy pregnancy, sPD-L1 increases significantly in the 1sttrimester (p = 0,0198) and decreases significantly postpartum (p = 0,0029). sPD-L1 values are higher in non-pregnant RA patients compared to non-pregnant healthy controls (p = 0,047) and there are no significant changes during RA pregnancy. Postpartum sPD-L1 values are significantly higher in RA patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0,0014), Fig. 1. Notably, regarding disease activity, we noticed a significant positive correlation between the overall sPD-L1 values in RA and DAS28-CRP (p= 0.0104), Fig. 2. No significant correlation was seen between sPD-L1, birth weight and preterm delivery. For sPD-1 we focused on 3rdtrimester and postpartum, however, there was no difference between healthy controls and RA patients and no correlation with disease activity or pregnancy outcome.Conclusion:In healthy pregnancy, we observed an increase of sPD-L1, which decreases after delivery. This supports the hypothesis, that PD-1 pathway may be involved in shaping the physiological fetal-maternal tolerance. In RA higher sPD-L1 values are measured already in non-pregnant patients compared to healthy controls and there is no physiological decrease postpartum. Intriguing, sPD-L1 correlates positively with RA disease activity, reflecting a possible functional antagonism towards the inhibitory function of membrane bound PD-L1 molecules. However, the detailed function of sPD-L1 need to be further delineated. Nevertheless, sPD-L1 may have the potential to serve as prognostic marker for flares in RA pregnancy. Regarding the rather rarely observed adverse pregnancy outcome, larger cohorts need to be investigated.References:[1]Zhang YH, Tian M, Tang MX et al. Recent Insight into the Role of the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway in Feto-Maternal Tolerance and Pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2015 Sep;74(3):201-8.Disclosure of Interests:Ana-Luisa Stefanski: None declared, Klara Eriksson: None declared, Astrid Zbinden: None declared, Peter Villiger Consultant of: MSD, Abbvie, Roche, Pfizer, Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Roche, MSD, Pfizer, Frauke Förger Grant/research support from: Unrestricted grant from UCB, Consultant of: UCB, GSK, Roche, Speakers bureau: UCB, GSK

scholarly journals Pregnancy outcome in patient who had first trimester bleeding in previous pregnancy: a prospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1559
Author(s):  
Faswila M. ◽  
Ramya N. R.
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Preterm Delivery ◽  
Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Placenta Previa ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Fetal Loss ◽  
Previous Pregnancy ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of

Background: Patient who had history of spontaneous abortion in her previous pregnancy is associated with adverse outcome in her present pregnancy.Methods: A total 63 pregnant women attending OPD and admitted in department of obstetrics and gynecology, Yenepoya Medical College, from April 2017 to September 2017, considered and outcome were studied.Results: Out of 63 patient’s majority (57.1%) of patients belong to the age group 21-29 year. Anemia was found to be very severe in 4.3%, severe in 10% and moderate in 30% patients. Maximum patients (45.7%) were with history of previous one abortion followed by previous two abortions (38.6%). The final outcomes were term livebirth 47 (74.3%), abortion 9 (14.3%), preterm delivery 5 (8.6%), and stillbirth 2 (2.8%) caesarean section (23.3%) for various indications. 19.23% had term PROM, 9.09% had PPROM, 5.76% had term IUGR, 3.84% term IUD, preterm IUD accounts for 9.09% and still birth accounted for about 1.92% which was term, pre-eclampsia accounted for 4.76%, malpresentation for 7.93%, total 3 cases of antepartum hemorrhage out of which  placenta previa accounts for about 3.1% and abruption for 1.58%, manual removal of placenta 4.7% and low birth weight 7.6%.Conclusions: Previous history of spontaneous abortion is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. There is increased risk of abortion, preterm delivery, need for caesarean sections and fetal loss which can be reduced by booking and giving antenatal care.

scholarly journals Fetal Thyroid Hormone Level at Birth Is Associated with Fetal Growth

2011 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. E934-E938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverley M. Shields ◽  
Beatrice A. Knight ◽  
Anita Hill ◽  
Andrew T. Hattersley ◽  
Bijay Vaidya
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Thyroid Hormone ◽  
Cord Blood ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Free T4 ◽  
Skeletal Size ◽  
Fetal Thyroid

Context: Thyroid function is known to play an important role in fetal neurological development, but its role in regulating fetal growth is not well established. Overt maternal and fetal thyroid disorders are associated with reduced birth weight. We hypothesized that, even in the absence of overt thyroid dysfunction, maternal and fetal thyroid function influence fetal growth. Aim: In normal, healthy pregnancies, we aimed to assess whether fetal thyroid hormone at birth (as measured in cord blood) is associated with fetal growth. We also aimed to study whether fetal thyroid hormone at birth is associated with maternal thyroid hormone in the third trimester. Methods: In 616 healthy mother-child pairs, TSH, free T4 (FT4), and free T3 (FT3) were measured in mothers at 28 wk gestation and in umbilical cord blood at birth. Birth weight, length, head circumference, and tricep and bicep skinfold thicknesses were measured on the babies. Results: Cord FT4 was associated with birth weight (r = 0.25; P &lt; 0.001), length (r = 0.17; P &lt; 0.001), and sum of skinfolds (r = 0.19; P &lt; 0.001). There were no associations between birth measurements and either cord TSH or cord FT3. Maternal FT4 and cord FT4 were correlated (r = 0.14; P = 0.0004), and there were weaker negative associations between maternal TSH and cord FT4 (r = −0.08; P = 0.04) and FT3 (r = −0.10; P = 0.01). Conclusion: Associations between cord FT4 and birth size suggest that fetal thyroid function may be important in regulating fetal growth, both of skeletal size and fat. The correlation between third-trimester maternal FT4 and cord FT4 supports the belief that maternal T4 crosses the placenta even in late gestation.

316. MATERNAL DIETARY ARGININE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING LATE GESTATION IMPROVES REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN PIGS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
M. J. De Blasio ◽  
C. T. Roberts ◽  
K. Kind ◽  
R. Smits ◽  
M. Nottle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Arginine Supplementation

Arginine (a non-essential amino acid) and its conversion to nitric oxide (NO) can promote formation of new blood vessels and cause vasodilation. This may reduce resistance and increase blood flow to the uterus and placenta, and the delivery of nutrients for fetal growth and survival. In pregnant rats, dietary arginine deficiency causes IUGR and increases fetal death and perinatal mortality, whereas dietary arginine supplementation reverses this. Human IUGR is associated with impaired NO synthesis, and eNOS activity in umbilical vein endothelial cells, but maternal arginine supplements have produced inconclusive results. We hypothesised that maternal arginine supplementation (MAS) in the pig (a species with naturally occurring IUGR), during late gestation, when placental angiogenesis and vascularity increase, would increase birth and placental weights. Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) gilts (n = 285) and sows (n = 326), were fed either a control or arginine supplemented (+25 g/d arginine, Nutreco Progenos premix) diet (2.5 kg/d) in late gestation (d75-term at ~114 days). Number born, born alive, still born and mummified, birth weight and d10 weight of progeny were measured. Data were analysed using Univariate ANOVA. MAS in late gestation in gilts and sows reduced the number of still born (Con: 1.17 ± 0.13 piglets/litter; Arg: 0.84 ± 0.09 piglets/litter; P = 0.046). In LW gilts, MAS increased birth weight (Con: 1.21 ± 0.05kg; Arg: 1.34 ± 0.05kg; P < 0.05), and litter birth weight (Con: 13.38 ± 0.72 kg; Arg: 15.27 ± 0.73 kg; P < 0.05). MAS also increased birth weight in LW (Con: 1.17 ± 0.06 kg; Arg: 1.30 ± 0.06 kg; P < 0.05) and LR (Con: 1.47 ± 0.05 kg; Arg: 1.60 ± 0.05 kg; P < 0.05) sows, and reduced still borns in LW sows (Con: 1.12 ± 0.14 piglets/litter; Arg: 0.77 ± 0.09 piglets/litter; P < 0.05). MAS in late gestation improves pregnancy outcomes in terms of piglet survival and birth weight, in LW and LR gilts and sows. MAS during critical periods of placental development may enhance placental-fetal blood flow and nutrient transfer, thereby improving fetal growth and survival.

scholarly journals Nutrient partitioning during pregnancy: adverse gestational outcome in overnourished adolescent dams

2000 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Growth And Development ◽  
Gravid Uterus ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Maternal Body ◽  
Sheep Model ◽  
Maternal Nutritional Status ◽  
Reproductive Axis ◽  
Nutrient Partitioning

Appropriate nutrient partitioning between the maternal body and gravid uterus is essential for optimum fetal growth and neonatal survival, and in adult sheep nutrient partitioning during pregnancy generally favours the conceptus at the expense of the dam. However, recent studies using an overnourished adolescent sheep model demonstrate that the hierarchy of nutrient partitioning during pregnancy can be dramatically altered in young growing females. Overnourishing the adolescent dams to promote rapid maternal growth throughout pregnancy results in a major restriction in placental mass and leads to a significant decrease in birth weight relative to moderately-fed adolescents of equivalent gynaecological age. High maternal feed intakes are also associated with an increased incidence of non-infectious spontaneous abortion, a reduction in gestation length and colostrum production, and a higher incidence of neonatal mortality. The present paper examines the putative role of a variety of endocrine regulators of nutrient partitioning in this unusual model system, where the dam is overnourished while the stunted placenta restricts nutrient supply to the fetus. The central role of nutritionally-mediated alterations in placental growth and development in setting the subsequent pattern of nutrient partitioning between the maternal body, placenta and fetus is examined, and critical periods of sensitivity to alterations in maternal nutritional status are defined. Finally, the consequences of this form of inappropriate nutrient partitioning on the growth and development of the fetus and neonate are described with particular emphasis on the reproductive axis.

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