Effects of short-term early gestational exposure to endophyte-infected tall fescue diets on plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid and fetal development in mares.
Abstract: Consumption of wild-type (toxic) endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) by horses during late gestation is known to adversely affect pregnancy outcome; however, little is known of the potential disruptive consequences of E+ consumption by mares during the critical phases of placentation and fetal development in early pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the detrimental effects of feeding E+ to mares during early gestation. Mares (n = 12) paired by stage of gestation (d 65 to 100) were assigned to diets (six per diet) consisting of endophyte-free (E-) or E+ tall fescue seed (50% E- or E+ tall fescue seed, 45% sweet feed, and 10% molasses fed at 1.0% of BW/d). Mares also had ad libitum access to E+ or E- annual ryegrass hay, and were fed diets for 10 d. Following removal from the tall fescue diet on d 11, mares were placed on common bermudagrass pasture and monitored until d 21. Morning and evening rectal temperatures were recorded and daily blood samples were collected for progesterone and prolactin (PRL) analyses, whereas samples for 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (a catecholamine metabolite) analysis were collected on alternate days. For clinical chemistry analysis, blood samples were collected on d 0, 5, 10 and 21. Daily urine samples were collected for ergot alkaloid analysis, and ultrasonography was performed for presence of echogenic material in fetal fluids. Rectal temperatures (E+ 37.76+/-0.03; E- 37.84+/-0.03 degrees C) and serum PRL concentrations (E+ 14.06< or =0.76; E- 12.11+/-0.76 ng/mL) did not differ (P = 0.96) between treatments. Measuring the change in basal serum concentration from d 0 over time, progesterone concentrations did not differ (-0.64 +/-1.49 and -0.55+/-1.47 ng/mL for E+ and E- mares, respectively). There was no negative pregnancy outcome, and ultrasonography indicated no increase in echogenic material in fetal fluids. Plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) in E+ compared with E- mares (2.1+/-0.14 and 4.4+/0.43 ng/mL, respectively). Urinary ergot alkaloid concentration was greater (P < 0.01) in mares consuming E+ compared with E- (532.12+/- 52.51 and 13.36+/-2.67 ng/mg of creatinine, respectively). Although no fetal loss was observed during the current study, elevated concentrations of urinary ergot alkaloid were consistent with depressed endogenous catecholamine activity, suggestive of an endocrine disruptive effect of hypothalamic origin.
Publication Date: 2004-10-16 PubMed ID: 15484943DOI: 10.2527/2004.82102919xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research aims to explore the detrimental effects of pregnant mares consuming endophyte-infected tall fescue during early pregnancy. The study indicates that while this diet doesn’t immediately impact the pregnancy, it causes increased urinary ergot alkaloid concentrations and reduced endogenous catecholamine activity, hinting at potential disruption of an important endocrine pathway.
Study Design
- 12 pregnant mares were selected and paired by their stage of gestation (between 65 to 100 days). They were assigned to diets composed either of endophyte-free (E-) tall fescue seed or endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue seed. The diet also comprised sweet feed and molasses, and the mares could freely eat E+ or E- annual ryegrass hay. This diet regimen was followed for 10 days.
- Upon the 11th day, the mares were put on a common bermudagrass pasture and monitored until the 21st day. Morning and evening rectal temperatures were recorded daily, and blood samples were taken for analysis of progesterone and prolactin levels. Every other day, samples were collected to analyze 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid, a metabolite of catecholamine.
- The researchers also collected blood samples on days 0, 5, 10, and 21 for clinical chemistry analysis, and urine samples were taken daily for ergot alkaloid analysis. Ultrasound scans were performed to check for the presence of echogenic material in the fetal fluids.
Results
- The study did not find any significant difference in rectal temperatures and serum prolactin concentrations between the E+ and E- mares.
- The progesterone levels, measured by change in basal serum concentration over time, were also not significantly different for E+ and E- horses.
- There were no negative pregnancy outcomes observed, and there was no increase in echogenic material in fetal fluids as detected by ultrasound.
- However, the study noted a significant decrease in plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid concentrations in E+ compared to E- mares.
- Lastly, the urinary ergot alkaloid concentration was significantly higher in mares that consumed E+ as compared to E-.
Implications of the Study
- Despite no immediate adverse effects on pregnancy, the consumption of E+ fescue seeds lead to increased urinary excretion of ergot alkaloids and decreased plasma concentrations of a catecholamine metabolite, indicating a potential endocrine disruption of hypothalamic origin.
- The changes hint at hidden risks associated with mares consuming E+ during early stages of gestation, necessitating further investigation to fully understand the long-term impacts on the health and development of the fetus.
Cite This Article
APA
Youngblood RC, Filipov NM, Rude BJ, Christiansen DL, Hopper RM, Gerard PD, Hill NS, Fitzgerald BP, Ryan PL.
(2004).
Effects of short-term early gestational exposure to endophyte-infected tall fescue diets on plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid and fetal development in mares.
J Anim Sci, 82(10), 2919-2929.
https://doi.org/10.2527/2004.82102919x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State 39762, USA.
MeSH Terms
- 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / blood
- Acremonium / growth & development
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Ergot Alkaloids / adverse effects
- Ergot Alkaloids / pharmacokinetics
- Ergot Alkaloids / urine
- Female
- Fetal Development / drug effects
- Food Contamination
- Horses / blood
- Horses / embryology
- Horses / physiology
- Horses / urine
- Lolium / microbiology
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Outcome / veterinary
- Progesterone / blood
- Prolactin / blood
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Poole RK, Poole DH. Impact of Ergot Alkaloids on Female Reproduction in Domestic Livestock Species.. Toxins (Basel) 2019 Jun 21;11(6).
- Fayrer-Hosken R, Stanley A, Hill N, Heusner G, Christian M, De La Fuente R, Baumann C, Jones L. Effect of feeding fescue seed containing ergot alkaloid toxins on stallion spermatogenesis and sperm cells.. Reprod Domest Anim 2012 Dec;47(6):1017-26.
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