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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Physiol / Ontogenic and nutritionally induced changes in fetal metabol...
The Journal of physiology2000; 528 Pt 1(Pt 1); 209-219; doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00209.x

Ontogenic and nutritionally induced changes in fetal metabolism in the horse.

Abstract: 1. Using the Fick principle and tracer methodology, the metabolic rates of chronically catheterized fetal foals (n = 24) were measured at different gestational ages during the second half of gestation and in response to maternal fasting for 36 h in late gestation (n = 4, term approximately 335 days). 2. Absolute rates of umbilical blood flow, fetal glucose utilization and umbilical uptake of oxygen (O2) and glucose increased from mid-gestation to 300 days and then plateauxed until term. The absolute rate of umbilical lactate uptake was significant after, but not before, 280 days of gestation. Weight specific rates of umbilical uptake and fetal utilization of glucose decreased progressively throughout the second half of gestation. 3. Weight specific rates of CO2 production from glucose carbon were also inversely correlated with gestational age. Umbilical lactate uptake per kilogram of fetus was lower after 320 days than between 281 and 300 days. In contrast, no gestational trends were observed in the weight specific rates of fetal O2 uptake and urea production. Glucose production by the fetal horse was negligible, even very close to term. 4. Maternal fasting for 36 h reduced the rate of umbilical uptake and utilization of glucose production but had no effect on the rates of endogenous glucose production and umbilical uptake of oxygen and lactate by the horse fetus. 5. The observations show that fetal metabolism is highly dependent on glucose in the horse compared to the sheep in mid- and late gestation. Different species therefore adopt different strategies in meeting the nutritional demands of the growing fetus during the second half of gestation.
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Publication Date: 2000-10-06 PubMed ID: 11018119PubMed Central: PMC2270112DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00209.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article investigates the metabolic rates and related changes in fetal foals throughout gestation and in response to maternal fasting. It found that maternal fasting reduces some aspects of glucose production, but not others, while highlighting differences between horse and sheep fetal metabolism.

Methodology

  • Researchers used the Fick principle, a model of physiological flow based on the concentration difference of substance metabolites, and tracer methodology to measure metabolic rates in fetal horses.
  • The experiments involved 24 chronically catheterized fetal foals at different gestational ages during the second half of gestation. An additional four foals were also tested during late gestation after their mothers were subject to 36 hours of fasting.

Foal Metabolism Changes Over Gestation

  • Metabolic changes were found in fetal foals throughout gestation. Notably, they observed an increased uptake of crucial nutrients (oxygen and glucose) from the umbilical cord as gestation progressed until around 300 days, after which a plateau was observed.
  • Weight-specific rates of umbilical glucose uptake and fetus utilization decreased progressively throughout the second half of gestation.
  • The study reveals that below 280 days of gestation, fetal uptake of lactate (a product of glucose metabolism) was negligible. However, after 280 days, lactate uptake became significant, suggesting a metabolic shift in the fetus as it grew larger.
  • Additionally, the researchers observed lower lactate uptake in the fetus after 320 days of gestation compared to the period from 281 to 300 days.

Effects of Maternal Fasting on Fetal Metabolism

  • The research provided insights into the impact of maternal fasting on fetal metabolism. Specifically, it showed that a 36-hour period of maternal fasting reduced the rate of umbilical uptake and utilization of glucose, but had no effect on the rates of endogenous glucose production and umbilical uptake of oxygen and lactate.

Comparative Analysis

  • By conducting a comparative analysis with another common domestic species (sheep), the researchers highlighted that fetal metabolism in horses is highly dependent on glucose in comparison to sheep, particularly during the mid- and late gestation periods.
  • They concluded that different species employ different strategies to meet the nutritional demands of the growing fetus during the second half of gestation.

Cite This Article

APA
Fowden AL, Taylor PM, White KL, Forhead AJ. (2000). Ontogenic and nutritionally induced changes in fetal metabolism in the horse. J Physiol, 528 Pt 1(Pt 1), 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7793.2000.00209.x

Publication

The Journal of physiology
ISSN: 0022-3751
NlmUniqueID: 0266262
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 528 Pt 1
Issue: Pt 1
Pages: 209-219

Researcher Affiliations

Fowden, A L
  • Departments of Physiology and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. alf1000@cam.ac.uk
Taylor, P M
    White, K L
      Forhead, A J

        MeSH Terms

        • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
        • Animals
        • Aorta / embryology
        • Aorta / physiology
        • Blood Flow Velocity / physiology
        • Blood Gas Analysis
        • Blood Glucose
        • Female
        • Fetal Weight / physiology
        • Food Deprivation / physiology
        • Gestational Age
        • Glucose / metabolism
        • Horses / embryology
        • Horses / metabolism
        • Hydrocortisone / blood
        • Insulin / blood
        • Lactic Acid / blood
        • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
        • Pregnancy
        • Umbilical Veins / physiology
        • Urea / blood
        • Vena Cava, Inferior / embryology
        • Vena Cava, Inferior / physiology

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 4 times.
        1. Filippi L, Pascarella F, Pini A, Cammalleri M, Bagnoli P, Morganti R, Innocenti F, Castagnini N, Melosi A, Scaramuzzo RT. Fetal Oxygenation from the 23rd to the 36th Week of Gestation Evaluated through the Umbilical Cord Blood Gas Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Aug 6;24(15).
          doi: 10.3390/ijms241512487pubmed: 37569862google scholar: lookup
        2. Filippi L, Scaramuzzo RT, Pascarella F, Pini A, Morganti R, Cammalleri M, Bagnoli P, Ciantelli M. Fetal oxygenation in the last weeks of pregnancy evaluated through the umbilical cord blood gas analysis. Front Pediatr 2023;11:1140021.
          doi: 10.3389/fped.2023.1140021pubmed: 37152310google scholar: lookup
        3. O'Connor SJ, Ousey JC, Gardner DS, Fowden AL, Giussani DA. Development of baroreflex function and hind limb vascular reactivity in the horse fetus. J Physiol 2006 Apr 1;572(Pt 1):155-64.
          doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.105635pubmed: 16469779google scholar: lookup
        4. Giussani DA, Forhead AJ, Fowden AL. Development of cardiovascular function in the horse fetus. J Physiol 2005 Jun 15;565(Pt 3):1019-30.
          doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.078469pubmed: 15790668google scholar: lookup
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