Intestinal development of bovine foetuses during gestation is affected by foetal sex and maternal nutrition

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal nutrition (MN) and foetal sex on the intestinal development of bovine foetuses throughout different days of gestation (DG). Forty-four multiparous, dry Holstein × Gyr cows with average initial body weight of 480 ± 10 kg were fed the same diet of either restricted feeding at 1.15% of body weight (CO, n = 24) or fed ad libitum (overnourished, ON, n = 20). Six cows from CO group and five cows from ON group were slaughtered at 139, 199, 241 and 268 DG, and foetuses were necropsied to evaluate the intestinal development. The mass, length and density of foetal intestines were not affected by MN (p ≥ 0.260). An interaction between MN and DG was observed for the villi length of jejunum (p = 0.006) and ileum (p < 0.001). Villi length of jejunum and ileum was higher (p < 0.10) in foetuses from ON-fed cows than in foetuses from CO-fed cows at 139 DG. However, at 199 DG, the villi length of jejunum and ileum of foetuses from CO-fed cows was higher than in foetuses from ON-fed cows. Despite these differences, MN did not affect the villi length of jejunum and ileum at 268 DG (p > 0.10). Female foetuses had greater small intestine mass (p = 0.093), large intestine mass (p = 0.022), small intestine mass in proportion to body mass (p = 0.017) and large intestine mass in proportion to body mass (p < 0.001) than male foetuses. Female foetuses had also longer small intestine (p = 0.077) and greater small intestine density (p = 0.021) and villi length of jejunum (p = 0.001) and ileum (p = 0.010) than males. We conclude that MN affects the pathway for the development of foetal villi length throughout the gestation in bovine foetuses without changing the final villi length. Female foetuses had higher intestinal mass, density and villi length than males during the foetal phase in bovines.

Maternal Supply of Ruminally-Protected Lysine and Methionine During Close-Up Period Enhances Immunity and Growth Rate of Neonatal Calves

“…Maternal nutrition can also influence the development of the intestinal tract in ruminants, which can affect the digestibility of nutrients and subsequent performance ( 32 , 65 , 66 ). RPM supply to late-gestation ewes increased both the protein expression of intestinal AA transporters and global methylation ( 32 ).…”

Late gestation supplementation of corn dried distiller’s grains plus solubles to beef cows fed a low-quality forage: III. effects on mammary gland blood flow, colostrum and milk production, and calf body weights

“…Hinde et al (2014) found that dams with female offspring produced 5% more milk during lactation than dams with male offspring. Moreover, Gionbelli et al (2017) reported that female bovine fetuses have a greater intestinal mass and villi length compared to their male counterparts, indicating the female fetus appears to have developed to receive these additional nutrients in the colostrum/milk. While an influence of calf sex on growth performance to weaning was not observed, the potential for daughter-biased colostrum and milk production clearly could impart advantages on early growth and survival of calves in a typical cow-calf operation.…”

Maternal Nutrition and Developmental Programming of Male Progeny

“…Although undernutrition often results in reduced birth weights, the same is not always the case with maternal overnutrition where birth weights tend to be similar between offspring exposed to maternal overnutrition or control diets meeting nutrient requirements [ 22 , 23 , 34 ]. The influence of maternal overnutrition on organ weights and mass is not as predictable as that observed with nutrient restriction, although many similar molecular changes to organ systems have been described [ 23 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. The influence of maternal overnutrition specific to the development of male offspring is not well investigated; however, sex-specific responses are becoming more frequently considered.…”

“…Several genes and biochemical pathways have been implicated in these responses; however, they may differ based on fetal sex and timing and duration of the nutritional insult. A comparison of male and female offspring revealed that male offspring prioritize skeletal muscle development over intestinal development compared to female offspring when exposed to maternal overnutrition in utero [ 34 , 35 ]. Furthermore, male offspring tend to develop skeletal muscle faster than female offspring, which could alter the response to maternal overnutrition and the resulting performance phenotypes [ 34 , 35 ].…”

“…A comparison of male and female offspring revealed that male offspring prioritize skeletal muscle development over intestinal development compared to female offspring when exposed to maternal overnutrition in utero [ 34 , 35 ]. Furthermore, male offspring tend to develop skeletal muscle faster than female offspring, which could alter the response to maternal overnutrition and the resulting performance phenotypes [ 34 , 35 ]. Future work should focus on elucidating sex × tissue-specific responses to maternal nutritional status during gestation.…”