Enhanced or reduced fetal growth induced by embryo transfer into smaller or larger breeds alters post-natal growth and metabolism in pre-weaning horses.
Abstract: In equids, placentation is diffuse and nutrient supply to the fetus is determined by uterine size. This correlates with maternal size and affects intra-uterine development and subsequent post-natal growth, as well as insulin sensitivity in the newborn. Long-term effects remain to be described. In this study, fetal growth was enhanced or restricted through ET using pony (P), saddlebred (S) and draft (D) horses. Control P-P (n = 21) and S-S (n = 28) pregnancies were obtained by AI. Enhanced and restricted pregnancies were obtained by transferring P or S embryos into D mares (P-D, n = 6 and S-D, n = 8) or S embryos into P mares (S-P, n = 6), respectively. Control and experimental foals were raised by their dams and recipient mothers, respectively. Weight gain, growth hormones and glucose homeostasis were investigated in the foals from birth to weaning. Fetal growth was enhanced in P-D and these foals remained consistently heavier, with reduced T3 concentrations until weaning compared to P-P. P-D had lower fasting glucose from days 30 to 200 and higher insulin secretion than P-P after IVGTT on day 3. Euglycemic clamps in the immediate post-weaning period revealed no difference in insulin sensitivity between P-D and P-P. Fetal growth was restricted in S-P and these foals remained consistently lighter until weaning compared to S-D, with elevated T3 concentrations in the newborn compared to S-S. S-P exhibited higher fasting glycemia than S-S and S-D from days 30 to 200. They had higher maximum increment in plasma glucose than S-D after IVGTT on day 3 and clamps on day 200 demonstrated higher insulin sensitivity compared to S-D. Neither the restricted nor the enhanced fetal environment affected IGF-1 concentrations. Thus, enhanced and restricted fetal and post-natal environments had combined effects that persisted until weaning. They induced different adaptive responses in post-natal glucose metabolism: an early insulin-resistance was induced in enhanced P-D, while S-P developed increased insulin sensitivity.
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The research investigates how the alteration of fetal growth, by transferring an embryo onto a larger or smaller breed, affects the post-birth growth and metabolism of pre-weaning horses. The study concludes that both enhanced and restricted fetal environments have effects that last until weaning, inducing different responses in post-birth glucose metabolism.
Methodology
The study was conducted on three different types of horses: pony (P), saddlebred (S) and draft (D).
Control pregnancies were obtained through artificial insemination in ponies (P-P) and saddlebred horses (S-S). Enhanced and restricted pregnancies were created by transferring pony or saddlebred embryos into a draft mare (P-D and S-D), or by transferring a saddlebred embryo into a pony mare (S-P).
The foals were monitored from birth to weaning, assessing their weight gain, growth hormone levels, and glucose metabolism.
Observations
Pony embryos transferred to draft mares (P-D) resulted in enhanced fetal growth and the foals remained heavier than control ponies (P-P) up to weaning.
These P-D foals showed reduced T3 hormone concentrations and lower fasting glucose levels compared to P-P. They also showed higher insulin secretion after an intravenous glucose tolerance test performed on day 3.
Saddlebred embryos transferred into a pony mare (S-P) resulted in restricted fetal growth, and these foals remained lighter until weaning compared to those where saddlebred embryos were transferred to draft mares (S-D).
The S-P foals also exhibited higher fasting glycemia, a higher maximum increase in plasma glucose after the 3rd day IVGTT, and higher insulin sensitivity compared to S-D.
The Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations remained unaffected in both enhanced and restricted fetal environments.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that the manipulation of fetal growth through embryo transfer in horses can significantly impact their postnatal growth and glucose metabolism.
Enhanced growth (as in the P-D foals) seemed to induce a form of early insulin resistance, while restricted growth (S-P foals) led to increased insulin sensitivity.
The findings could have significant implications for understanding how intrauterine environments could influence the health and metabolic adaptations in newborn animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Peugnet P, Wimel L, Duchamp G, Sandersen C, Camous S, Guillaume D, Dahirel M, Dubois C, Jouneau L, Reigner F, Berthelot V, Chaffaux S, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P.
(2014).
Enhanced or reduced fetal growth induced by embryo transfer into smaller or larger breeds alters post-natal growth and metabolism in pre-weaning horses.
PLoS One, 9(7), e102044.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0102044
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
Wimel, Laurence
IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
Duchamp, Guy
INRA, UE1293, Nouzilly, France.
Sandersen, Charlotte
Clinique équine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, CORD, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgique.
Camous, Sylvaine
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
Guillaume, Daniel
INRA, UMR85, Physiologie de la Reproduction et Comportements, Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France; IFCE, Nouzilly, France.
Dahirel, Michèle
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
Dubois, Cédric
IFCE, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, Chamberet, France.
Jouneau, Luc
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
Reigner, Fabrice
INRA, UE1293, Nouzilly, France.
Berthelot, Valérie
INRA, UMR791 Modélisation Systémique Appliquée aux Ruminants, Paris, France; AgroParis Tech, Paris, France.
Chaffaux, Stéphane
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
Tarrade, Anne
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
Serteyn, Didier
Clinique équine, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, CORD, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgique.
Chavatte-Palmer, Pascale
INRA, UMR1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Jouy en Josas, France; ENVA, Maisons Alfort, France.
MeSH Terms
Animals
Animals, Newborn / growth & development
Animals, Newborn / metabolism
Blood Glucose / metabolism
Breeding
Embryo Transfer / veterinary
Female
Fetal Development
Growth Hormone / metabolism
Horses / growth & development
Horses / metabolism
Insulin Resistance
Male
Pregnancy
Weaning
Weight Gain
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing Interests: Co-author Pascale Chavatte-Palmer is a PLOS ONE Editorial Board member. This does not alter the authors\' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
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