Fetal Huanjiang mini-pigs exhibit differences in nutrient composition according to body weight and gestational period

Abstract

Low birth weight may negatively affect energy storage and nutrient metabolism, and impair fetal growth and development. We analyzed effects of body weight (BW) and gestational period on nutrient composition in fetal Huanjiang mini-pigs. Fetuses with the lowest BW (LBW), middle BW (MBW), and highest BW (HBW) were collected at days 45, 75, and 110 of gestation. Crude protein (CP), crude fat, amino acid (AA), and fatty acid (FA) concentrations were determined. The BW gain, carcass weight, fat percentage, and uterus weight of sows increased as gestation progressed, as did litter weight, average individual fetal weight, fetal body weight, and dry matter (DM). The concentrations of Ala, Arg, crude fat, Gly, Pro, Tyr, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, C18:3n3, C18:3n6, C20:0, C20:3n6, saturated FA (SFA), and monounsaturated FA (MUFA) increased significantly as gestation progressed. The percentage of skeleton, and the ratio of the liver, lung, and stomach to BW decreased as gestation progressed. There were also significant reductions in the concentrations of CP, Asp, Glu, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Ser, Thr, essential AA (EAA), acidic AA, C17:0, C20:4n6, C22:6n3, unsaturated FA (UFA), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), n-3PUFA, n-6PUFA as gestation progressed, and reductions in EAA/total AA (TAA), PUFA/SFA, and n-3/n-6 PUFA. The LBW fetuses exhibited the lowest BW and crude fat, C14:0, C16:1, C17:0, C18:2n6c, and MUFA concentrations at days 75 and 110 of gestation. They also exhibited lower Tyr concentration at day 45 of gestation and lower Glu concentration at day 75 of gestation than HBW fetuses. These findings suggest that LBW fetuses exhibit lower amounts of crude fat and several FAs during mid-gestation and late-gestation, which may in turn affect adaptability, growth, and development.

Dynamic alteration in the gut microbiota and metabolome during the pregnancy

“…We also found that the dominant phyla in jejunal and ileal contents was Firmicutes, and those in colonic contents were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, which is consistence with previous studies [15,13]. In addition, lower Firmicutes abundance and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio were observed in the ileum from days 45 to 110 of gestation, which is in line with the changes of body fat percentage of sows [11]. However, earlier studies showed that obesity were associated with increased Firmicutes abundance and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio [20,21].…”

“…In the present study, the abundance of Lactobacillus reduced in jejunum and ileum ongoing with pregnancy. Consistence with the changes of Lactobacillus abundance, the sows are more obese at the late pregnancy [11], indicating that Lactobacillus was associated with changed maternal metabolism during the pregnancy. Obese women had higher number of mutants Streptococcus compared to normal-weight women [26], and higher Streptococcus colonization was also signi cantly associated with obesity in children [27].…”

“…Butyrate increases energy expenditure and prevents diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance [9,33]. Consistence with the changes of maternal body fat percentage [11], the ileal acetate concentration increased and the butyrate concentration decreased from days 45 to 110 of gestation, indicating that acetate and butyrate in ileum might contribute to maternal obesity at late pregnancy. Based on these ndings, it was summarized that acetate and butyrate might be the main SCFAs that involved in maternal fat metabolism during the pregnancy.…”

“…Intestine microbiota and their metabolites play important role in obesity. We previously observed maternal obesity at the late pregnancy in a sow model [11]. However, the changes of intestine microbiota and their metabolites during gestation extend are still unknown.…”

Dynamic Changes of Metabolite Profiles in Maternal Biofluids During Gestation Period in Huanjiang Mini-Pigs

“…IUGR usually lead to alteration of the postnatal growth, together with anomalies related to glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride metabolism ( 6 , 7 ). When Huanjiang mini-pigs are fed with diets containing lower nutrient level or with imbalanced diets they display lower BW at first service and bigger litter size, thus explaining why Huanjiang mini-pigs are much susceptible to low birth weight ( 8 ).…”