Abstract: In horses, the prevalence of obesity is high and associated with serious metabolic pathologies. Being a broodmare has been identified as a risk factor for obesity. In other species, maternal obesity is known to affect the development of the offspring. This article is a follow-up study of previous work showing that Obese mares (O, n = 10, body condition score > 4.25 at insemination) were more insulin resistant and presented increased systemic inflammation during pregnancy compared to Normal mares (N, n = 14, body condition score < 4 at insemination). Foals born to O mares were more insulin-resistant, presented increased systemic inflammation, and were more affected by osteoarticular lesions. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of maternal obesity on placental structure and function, as well as the fatty acid profile in the plasma of mares and foals, colostrum, and milk until 90 days of lactation, which, to our knowledge, has been poorly studied in the horse. Mares from both groups were fed the same diet during pregnancy and lactation. During lactation, mares were housed in pasture. A strong heat wave, followed by a drought, occurred during their 2nd and 3rd months of lactation (summer of 2016 in the Limousin region, France). In the present article, term placental morphometry, structure (stereology), and gene expression (RT-qPCR, genes involved in nutrient transport, growth, and development, as well as vascularization) were studied. Plasma of mares and their foals, as well as colostrum and milk, were sampled at birth, 30 days, and 90 days of lactation. The fatty acid composition of these samples was measured using gas chromatography. No differences between the N and O groups were observed for term placental morphometry, structure, or gene expression. No difference in plasma fatty acid composition was observed between groups in mares. The plasma fatty acid profile of O foals was more pro-inflammatory and indicated an altered placental lipid metabolism between birth and 90 days of age. These results are in line with the increased systemic inflammation and altered glucose metabolism observed until 18 months of age in this group. The colostrum fatty acid profile of O mares was more pro-inflammatory and indicated an increased transfer and/or desaturation of long-chain fatty acids. Moreover, O foals received a colostrum poorer in medium-chain saturated fatty acid, a source of immediate energy for the newborn that can also play a role in immunity and gut microbiota development. Differences in milk fatty acid composition indicated a decreased ability to adapt to heat stress in O mares, which could have further affected the metabolic development of their foals. In conclusion, maternal obesity affected the fatty acid composition of milk, thus also influencing the foal's plasma fatty acid composition and likely participating in the developmental programming observed in growing foals.
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This research article focuses on the impacts of maternal obesity in horses on placental structure, gene expression, and the fatty acid concentration in colostrum and milk. While the study found no noticeable changes to placental features, it observed an increased pro-inflammatory fatty acid profile in obese mares’ offspring, indicating an altered placental lipid metabolism. Evident was also a negative impact on colostrum and milk quality, which likely influenced the offspring’s metabolic development.
Understanding the Study
The study followed up on previous conclusions indicating high insulin resistance and systemic inflammation in obese mares during pregnancy. By comparing these with normal mares, it was discovered that obesity might affect the health and growth of horse offspring.
The research aims to dig deeper into the effects of maternal obesity on the structure and function of the placenta. It also seeks to explore the fatty acid profile in the plasma of mares and foals along with the colostrum and milk over 90 days of lactation – a component that had not been given much attention in horse studies.
The pregnant mares in both the obese and normal groups were subjected to the same diet during pregnancy and lactation, and were kept in a pasture during lactation. The conditions during lactation included a heatwave and drought.
Methodology
Researchers used various methods to examine term placental morphometry, structure, and gene expression – this included stereology and RT-qPCR, targeting genes involved in nutrient transport, growth, development, and vascularization.
Numerous samples were collected during the study – plasma from mares and foals, and colostrum and milk – at birth, after 30 days, and after 90 days of lactation. The fatty acid composition of these samples was assessed using gas chromatography.
Key Findings
No significant differences were noted in placental morphometry, structure, or gene expression between normal and obese mares.
The plasma fatty acid profile of offspring from obese mares was more pro-inflammatory and indicated altered placental lipid metabolism up to the age of 90 days. This outcome is consistent with previous findings of increased systemic inflammation and altered glucose metabolism in this group until 18 months of age.
The fatty acid profile of colostrum from obese mares was also more pro-inflammatory; it suggested a heightened transfer and/or desaturation of long-chain fatty acids.
The milk from obese mares had a lesser quantity of medium-chain saturated fatty acid that serves as an immediate energy source for newborns and is critical in immunity and gut microbiota development.
Obese mares also showed a lessened ability to adapt to heat stress, likely affecting the metabolic development of their foals.
Conclusion
The study concludes that maternal obesity can influence the fatty acid composition in milk, which in turn might impact the plasma fatty acid composition in foals and has potential effects on their metabolic development.
Cite This Article
APA
Robles M, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Dubois C, Josse T, Nouveau É, Dahirel M, Wimel L, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P.
(2023).
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, 10(12).
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10120691
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