Influence of birth weight on gene regulators of lipid metabolism and utilization in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs

Abstract

Epidemiological studies suggest that low-birth weight infants show poor neonatal growth and increased susceptibility to metabolic syndrome, in particular, obesity and diabetes. Adipose tissue development is regulated by many genes, including members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) families. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight on key adipose and skeletal muscle tissue regulating genes. Piglets from 11 litters were ranked according to birth weight and 3 from each litter assigned to small, normal, or large-birth weight groups. Tissue samples were collected on day 7 or 14. Plasma metabolite concentrations and the expression of PPARG2, PPARA, FABP3, and FABP4 genes were determined in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Adipocyte number and area were determined histologically. Expression of FABP3 and 4 was significantly reduced in small and large, compared with normal, piglets in adipose tissue on day 7 and in skeletal muscle on day 14. On day 7, PPARA and PPARG2 were significantly reduced in adipose tissue from small and large piglets. Adipose tissue from small piglets contained more adipocytes than normal or large piglets. Birth weight had no effect on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle lipid content. Low-birth weight is associated with tissue-specific and time-dependent effects on lipid-regulating genes as well as morphological changes in adipose tissue. It remains to be seen whether these developmental changes alter an individual's susceptibility to metabolic syndrome.

The effect of high nutrient on the growth performance, adipose deposition and gene expression of lipid metabolism in the neonatal intrauterine growth-retarded piglets

“…Our results showed that the birth weight had no significant effect on the expression of gene in abdominal fat and liver, but high birth weight could increase the expression of PGC-1α, SREBP-1c in longissimus dorsi. The NL increased the expression of PGC-1α, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c in longissimus dorsi, the BW and NL had an effect on the expression of H-FABP in longissimus dorsi and SREBP-1c in longissimus dorsi and liver, which was consistent with the previous studies (Kim & Park 2008;Williams et al 2009). It is possible that HN allowed the more nutrients to be used to the muscle fibre hypertrophy rather than fat deposition during the suckling period of IUGR piglets.…”

Compensatory growth feeding strategy does not overcome negative effects on growth and carcass composition of low birth weight pigs

“…Compensatory growth and piglet birth weight postnatal day 7 (Williams et al, 2009), and a greater density of small-sized adipocytes on postnatal day 14 when compared with controls (Attig et al, 2008). The latter indicates greater proliferation of fat cells in low birth weight pigs as an adaptive phenomenon designed to improve long-term capacity for lipid storage, for example, during the lactation period, where feed supply is restricted.…”

“…In the finishing phase, a period known to exhibit increased fat deposition rate especially in barrows, lower feed efficiency corroborates with the lower carcass lean meat percentage of RA and AA pigs. The fact that low birth weight pigs have fewer adipocytes present for lipid filling (Attig et al, 2008;Williams et al, 2009) might explain that ad libitum feed access exhibited to a greater extent the full expression of lipogenic potential and ultimately fat growth in low compared with high birth weight littermates. On the other hand, restricted feed access and consequently lower dietary energy intake prevented excessive adipose tissue accumulation as carcass composition of low and high birth weight littermates displayed a comparable percentage of lean and adipose tissue.…”

Comprendre le développement des muscles et des tissus adipeux : un préalable pour maîtriser les qualités des carcasses et des produits des animaux d’élevage

“…Chez le porc, des foetus présentant un retard de croissance intrautérin (reflet d'une sous-nutrition foetale) au sein d'une portée, ont un dépôt de lipides dans les fibres musculaires plus élevé pendant la période foetale (Karunaratne et al 2009). A la naissance, ces porcelets ont un NTF réduit (Gondret et al 2005, Rehfeldt et Kuhn 2006, et présentent une adiposité corporelle et des niveaux d'expression de marqueurs adipocytaires plus faibles que leurs congénères de portée de poids moyen (Williams et al 2009, Ramsay et al 2010. A 6 mois d'âge, ils présentent à l'inverse une adiposité corporelle plus élevée (tissu adipeux sous-cutané et périrénal), une teneur en lipides intramusculaires supérieure, et des fibres musculaires plus grosses probablement en raison de leur NTF plus faible .…”