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Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience2018; 12(s2); s363-s371; doi: 10.1017/S1751731118001337

Review: Epigenetics, developmental programming and nutrition in herbivores.

Abstract: Epidemiological studies in humans and animal models (including ruminants and horses) have highlighted the critical role of nutrition on developmental programming. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that the nutritional environment during the periconceptional period and foetal development can altered the postnatal performance of the resultant offspring. This nutritional programming can be exerted by maternal and paternal lineages and can affect offspring beyond the F1 generation. Alterations in epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed as the causative link behind the programming trajectories observed in the offspring. Although a clear cause-effect relationship between epigenetic modifications during early development and later offspring phenotype has not been demonstrated in livestock species, strong associations have been reported for some epigenetic marks (e.g. messenger RNA) that are worth exploring as possible predictors of future offspring phenotype. In this review, we shortly describe the main epigenetic mechanisms studied so far in mammals (i.e. mainly in the mouse) thought to be associated with developmental programming, and discuss the few studies available in mammalian herbivores (e.g. cattle) showing the effect of nutrition on epigenetic marks and the associated phenotype. Clearly, there is a need to develop research on nutritional strategies capable of modulating the epigenetic machinery with positive influence on the phenotype of livestock herbivores. This type of research is needed to alleviate the challenges currently faced by the livestock industry (e.g. impaired fertility of high-yielding dairy cows). This in turn will have a positive influence on animal welfare and productivity of livestock enterprises.
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Publication Date: 2018-08-24 PubMed ID: 30139395DOI: 10.1017/S1751731118001337Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article explores the significant role of nutrition on developmental programming in herbivores and its potential long-term impact on the offspring. The research indicates a strong correlation between early nutrition and offspring phenotype, suggesting the possibility for nutritional strategies to modulate the epigenetic machinery and positively impact livestock productivity and welfare.

Role of Nutrition on Developmental Programming

  • The article unveils the vital importance of the periconceptional period and fetal development nutrition on the postnatal performance of offspring. This influence can be traced through both parental lineages and extend beyond the first generation of offspring.
  • The subset of findings focused on these influences in herbivores, specifically ruminants and horses, provides valuable insight into the potential long-term impact of early nutrition on these species.

Epigenetics as a Link in the Programming Trajectories

  • The study proposes alterations in epigenetic mechanisms as the central factor behind the observed programming trajectories in the offspring.
  • Although a definitive cause-effect relationship between early development epigenetic modifications and the phenotype of the later offspring has not been established in livestock species, some associations have been identified. These associations are particularly strong in the case of certain epigenetic marks like messenger RNA.
  • The assumption is that these identified associations could shed light on potential predictors of future offspring phenotype.

Impact on Livestock Management

  • The paper suggests the importance of research into nutritional strategies that could influence the epigenetic machinery positively.
  • These strategies could have significant effects on the livestock industry by addressing prevalent challenges like impaired fertility in high-yielding dairy cows, thereby enhancing both animal welfare and the productivity of livestock enterprises.
  • Studies into the effects of nutrition on epigenetic marks and the associated phenotype in mammalian herbivores such as cattle could provide valuable information to this end.

Cite This Article

APA
Chavatte-Palmer P, Velazquez MA, Jammes H, Duranthon V. (2018). Review: Epigenetics, developmental programming and nutrition in herbivores. Animal, 12(s2), s363-s371. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118001337

Publication

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
ISSN: 1751-732X
NlmUniqueID: 101303270
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: s2
Pages: s363-s371

Researcher Affiliations

Chavatte-Palmer, P
  • 1UMR BDR,INRA,ENVA,Université Paris Saclay,78350Jouy en Josas,France.
Velazquez, M A
  • 2School of Natural and Environmental Sciences,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LE,UK.
Jammes, H
  • 1UMR BDR,INRA,ENVA,Université Paris Saclay,78350Jouy en Josas,France.
Duranthon, V
  • 1UMR BDR,INRA,ENVA,Université Paris Saclay,78350Jouy en Josas,France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Fetal Development
  • Herbivory
  • Livestock
  • Mammals / embryology
  • Mammals / genetics
  • Mammals / physiology
  • Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Nutritional Status
  • Phenotype
  • Pregnancy
  • Ruminants

Citations

This article has been cited 22 times.
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