Purpose A thrifty energy metabolism has been suggested in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) offspring. We characterized energy metabolism and substrate oxidation patterns in IUGR pigs in response to food restriction (FR) and refeeding (RFD).MethodsFemale pigs with low (L; 1.1 kg; n = 20) or normal birth weight (N; 1.5 kg; n = 24) were fed ad libitum after weaning. Half of L and N pigs were food restricted (R; LR, NR) from days 80 to 100 (57 % of ad libitum) and refeed from days 101 to 131, while the remaining pigs were fed ad libitum (control, C). Using indirect calorimetry, carbohydrate and fat oxidation (COX, FOX), energy expenditure (EE) and balance (EB), resting metabolic rate (RMR) [all related to kg body weight0.62 (BW)] and RQ were determined at 4 days before (day 76) and after (day 83) beginning of FR, 4 days before (day 97) and after (day 104) end of FR and 25 days after beginning of RFD (day 125). Body fat and muscle weights were determined at day 131.ResultsIn spite of higher relative food intake (FI), BW was lower in L pigs. In L pigs, physical activity was lower at age 76 and 83 days compared to N pigs. IUGR did not affect EE or RMR, but resulted in higher COX and lower FOX, causing greater and earlier onset of fat deposition. During FR, EE and RMR of R pigs dropped below that of C pigs, and BW gain was delayed by 30 % irrespective of birth weight. In response to FR, COX decreased and FOX increased. During FR, in LR pigs FOX was ~50 % of that in NR pigs. After 4 days, but not 25 days of RFD, EB and fat synthesis were higher in pigs previously subjected to FR, indicating early catch-up fat. In R pigs, BW and the abdominal fat proportion were lower at 131 days.ConclusionsDifferences in food intake and substrate oxidation pattern, but not in EE and RMR, between L and N pigs were reflected in higher body fat proportions but lower body and muscle weights in L pigs. Refeeding following FR was initially associated with increased FI, a more positive EB and a more intense stimulation of fat synthesis which did not persist after 25 days of refeeding.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00394-013-0567-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract:Rates of hydride abstractions from j3-silyl-, j3-germyl-, and B-stannyl-substituted silanes [HSiMeZ(CHzMMe3), M = Si, Ge, Sn] and related compounds by diarylcarbenium ions have been measured. The intermediate silicenium ions, produced in the rate-determining step, are stabilized by hyperconjugation, but the effects are much smaller than in comparable carbenium ions.

A close link between intrauterine growth restriction and development of chronic adult diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension has been established both in humans and animals. Modification of growth velocity during the early postnatal period (i.e., lactation) may also sensitize to the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. This suggests that milk composition may have long-lasting programming/deprogramming metabolic effects in the offspring. We therefore assess the effects of maternal perinatal denutrition on breast milk composition in a food-restricted 50% (FR50) rat model. Monosaccharides and fatty acids were characterized by gas chromatography, and proteins were profiled by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight analysis in milk samples from FR50 and control rat dams. Milk analysis of FR50 rats demonstrated that maternal undernutrition decreases lactose concentration and modulates lipid profile at postnatal day 10 by increasing the unsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids and diminishes serotransferrin levels at postnatal day 21. Our data indicate that maternal perinatal undernutrition modifies milk composition both quantitatively and qualitatively. These modifications by maternal nutrition open new perspectives to identify molecules that could be used in artificial milk to protect from the subsequent development of metabolic diseases.

It is now increasingly recognized that exposure to an imbalanced nutrition both in utero and in early postnatal life are related to a higher propensity to become obese in later life. This phenomenon is known as the Hales and Barker's ‘thrifty phenotype’ hypothesis. Less is however known about the underlying alterations of maternal body mass (BM) development and metabolic conditions. We investigated effects of isoenergetic diets containing either low (LP, 6%; n=12), high (HP, 30%; n=12) or control protein (CP, 12%; n=12) levels in young German Landrace sows from insemination (age 8 mo, 148 kg BM) to parturition (term 115 d). Body fatness was assessed by backfat ultrasound (BFU) measurements. Plasma was collected at −5, +24, +66, +108 gestational d (GD). Sows fed LP gained 45.3 kg BM until 109 GD, which was less than in CP and HP (66.4, 62.6; P<0.05). During the same time period BFU increased by 3.18, 4.06, and 4.87 mm in HP, LP and CP, respectively (P<0.05). Mean piglet birth weight was lower in LP and HP than in CP (1.16, 1.21, 1.38 kg; P<0.05) with no difference in litter size. Maternal plasma urea increased in HP and decreased in LP (P<0.05). We conclude that the porcine model is suitable to study maternal diet effects. LP and HP diets during pregnancy are detrimental for fetal growth. The underlying mechanisms need to be determined.Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (ME 1420/8‐1), Bonn, Germany