Effect of maternal overnutrition on predisposition to insulin resistance in the foal: Foal skeletal muscle development and insulin signaling.
Abstract: Skeletal muscle plays an integral role in the ability of a horse to perform at high levels. Shifts in skeletal muscle development in response to maternal plane of nutrition may have substantial and lasting impacts on athletic performance and whole-body metabolism. Therefore, sixteen Quarter Horse mares were used in a completely randomized design and maintained at a body condition score (BCS) 6 until start of third trimester. On d 235 of gestation, mares were randomly assigned to receive one of two dietary treatments with a diet formulated to meet requirements during late gestation (CON; n = 8), and an overfed diet (HIGH; n = 8) where mares received an additional 40% above CON. Five h after parturition, foals were euthanized, and gluteus medius, triceps brachii, and semitendinosus were harvested for analyses. Gene expression was determined by qPCR and western immunoblotting was used to quantify total and phosphorylated forms of proteins involved in skeletal muscle metabolism with tubulin as the loading control. All data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Foals from HIGH mares exhibited larger skeletal muscle fibers by area (P <0.05), and a shift in muscle fiber development towards type I slow twitch muscle fibers (P <0.05). Relative expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) was lower in HIGH foals compared to CON in gluteus medius (P = 0.05). Insulin receptor isoform B (INSR-B) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) were greater in triceps brachii of HIGH foals compared to CON (P ≤ 0.03). Insulin receptor isoform A (INSR-A), however, tended to be lower in triceps brachii of HIGH compared to CON (P = 0.10). Ratios of phosphorylated to total extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-June N-terminal kinase (JNK) were higher in HIGH foals compared to CON (P ≤0.04) in gluteus medius. There were no differences observed for phosphorylated to total protein ratios in semitendinosus and triceps brachii muscles; however, total ERK1/2 tended to be elevated (P 0.14). These data indicate hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers and a shift towards type I slow twitch fibers in HIGH foals. Furthermore, this study identifies muscle specific changes in gene expression and downstream insulin receptor signaling, which may contribute to future metabolic abnormalities in response to maternal overnutrition.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2021-07-02 PubMed ID: 34314944DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106648Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates how the overnutrition of pregnant horses can affect their offspring’s muscular development and insulin signaling, potentially predisposing them to insulin resistance and influencing their athletic performance and overall metabolism.
Study Design
- Researchers used sixteen Quarter Horse mares in a randomized study, beginning at a body condition score (BCS) of 6 until the start of their third trimester.
- At 235 days of gestation, the mares were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments: a regular diet for late gestation (CON – Control; 8 mares) and an overfed diet (HIGH – High; 8 mares) where the mares received 40% more than the control diet.
- Five hours after birth, the foals were euthanized, and samples of gluteus medius, triceps brachii, and semitendinosus muscles were collected for analysis.
Methodology
- Gene expressions were determined through quantitative PCR and protein amounts were analyzed through western immunoblotting with tubulin acting as the control.
- Data was analyzed using the statistical program PROC MIXED of SAS.
Results
- Foals from the HIGH group exhibited larger skeletal muscle fibers and a shift towards type I slow twitch muscle fibers.
- The expression of the glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) gene was found to be lower in the gluteus medius muscle of foals from the overnourished group compared to the control group.
- The insulin receptor isoform B (INSR-B) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) gene expressions were found to be more significant in the triceps brachii muscle of foals from the overnourished group compared to the control group.
- The insulin receptor isoform A (INSR-A) gene expression was somewhat (but not statistically significantly) less in the triceps brachii muscles of the overfed group compared to the control group.
- The ratio of phosphorylated to total extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) and c-June N-terminal kinase (JNK) were higher in the overfed group compared to the control group in the gluteus medius muscle.
- No notable differences were observed in the semitendinosus and triceps brachii muscles in the ratio of phosphorylated to total protein.
- However, the total levels of ERK1/2 were slightly higher in the semitendinosus muscles of the control group compared to the overfed group.
- No difference was observed in the phosphorylated or total protein levels of protein kinase B (AKT).
Conclusion
- The data indicated that overnutrition in pregnant mares resulted in offspring with hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers and a shift towards type I slow twitch fibers.
- The study identified specific changes in gene expression and downstream insulin receptor signaling in the muscles due to maternal overnutrition, which may contribute to future metabolic abnormalities in the offspring.
Cite This Article
APA
Bradbery AN, Coverdale JA, Hammer CJ, Dunlap KA, Leatherwood JL, Satterfield MC.
(2021).
Effect of maternal overnutrition on predisposition to insulin resistance in the foal: Foal skeletal muscle development and insulin signaling.
Domest Anim Endocrinol, 77, 106648.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106648 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843. Electronic address: amanda.bradbery@montana.edu.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843.
- Department of Animal Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58108.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843.
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843. Electronic address: csatterfield@tamu.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Insulin / metabolism
- Insulin Resistance
- Muscle Development
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Overnutrition / veterinary
- Pregnancy
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Trauner AM, McCoski SR, Satterfield MC, Bradbery AN. Late gestation maternal overnutrition alters gene expression and histomorphology in neonatal foal testes. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
- Šimon M, Kaić A, Potočnik K. Unveiling Genetic Potential for Equine Meat Production: A Bioinformatics Approach. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 22;14(16).
- Robles M, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Dubois C, Josse T, Nouveau É, Dahirel M, Wimel L, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Obesity during Pregnancy in the Horse: Effect on Term Placental Structure and Gene Expression, as Well as Colostrum and Milk Fatty Acid Concentration. Vet Sci 2023 Dec 4;10(12).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
