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Uteroplacental tissue plays a key role in substance exchanges between maternal and fetal circulation, and, therefore, in the growth and development of fetuses. In this study, proteomics and western blotting were applied to investigate the changes of proteome in the placenta and endometrium of normal and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) porcine fetuses during mid to late pregnancy (D60, 90, and 110 of gestation). Our results showed that proteins participating in cell structure, energy metabolism, stress response, cell turnover, as well as transport and metabolism of nutrients were differentially expressed in placenta and endometrium between normal and IUGR fetuses. Analysis of functions of these proteins suggests reductions in ATP production and nutrients transport, increases in oxidative stress and apoptosis, and impairment of cell metabolism in IUGR fetuses. Collectively, our findings aid in understanding of the mechanisms responsible for uteroplacental dysfunction in IUGR fetus, and are expected to provide new strategies to reduce fetal growth restriction in pigs and other mammals.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may have permanent stunting effects on muscle growth and development of the progeny. However, underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Recent studies comparing muscle fiber development and proteomes in IUGR and normal-body-weight (NBW) fetal pigs indicated that muscle fiber diameter were smaller in IUGR fetal pigs than in NBW fetal pigs on all three stages (d 60, d 90 and d 110) of gestation. Although the number of primary fibers did not differ between these two fetal groups on d 60 of gestation, the total number of muscle fibers in IUGR fetal pigs was lower on d 90 and 110 of gestation, when compared with NBW fetal pigs. Further proteomic analysis has shown that 37 proteins involved in energy supply and protein metabolism, structure and type of muscle fibers, proliferation and differentiation of muscle fibers, nutrient transport, intracellular environment, and tissue integrity were differentially expressed between IUGR and NBW fetal pigs. These novel findings provide some implications on the mechanisms of reduced growth and impaired development of skeletal muscle in IUGR piglets.