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The effect of maternal undernutrition before muscle differentiation on the muscle fiber development of the newborn lamb

Fahey, A. J.; Brameld, J. M.; Parr, T.; Buttery, P. J.

Authors

A. J. Fahey

Profile image of JOHN BRAMELD

JOHN BRAMELD JOHN.BRAMELD@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry

TIM PARR TIM.PARR@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry

P. J. Buttery



Abstract

There is a need to improve the lean tissue content of ruminant animals destined for meat production. Muscle fiber number is set during fetal development. The effect of undernutrition of pregnant ewes on subsequent muscle fiber characteristics of their offspring was investigated. The trial involved 32 pregnant ewes carrying twins. The ewes were allocated randomly to one of four groups: three different treatment groups (n = 8) and a control group (n = 8). The diet of the treatment groups was dropped to 50% of their daily requirement to support the ewe and allow for conceptus growth for varying periods before being returned to 100% of their daily requirement until term. Group d 30-70 ewes were fed 100% of their daily requirement until d 30, the diet was then decreased to 50% until d 70; it was then returned to 100% of their daily requirement until term. Group d 55-95 ewes were similarly restricted from d 55 through 95, and Group d 85-115 ewes were restricted from d 85 through 115. The control group was fed 100% of their daily requirement to support the ewe and allow for conceptus growth throughout gestation. After parturition, the lactating ewes were fed a normal commercial diet. On d 14 (after parturition), the lambs were slaughtered and the LM, semitendinosus (ST), and vastus lateralis (VL) were dissected and snap frozen. The immunochemical determination of myosin heavy-chain slow (MHC-slow) and myosin heavy-chain fast (MHC-fast) proteins was measured by immunoprobing of Western blots. The number of fast and slow fibers and the diameter of these fibers also were measured in each muscle sample by histochemical techniques. Decreased maternal nutrition before fiber formation (d 30 through 70) was observed to change the muscle characteristics of the newborn lambs. These lambs had significantly fewer fast fibers (P < 0.001) and significantly more slow fibers (P < 0.001) in both the LM and VL compared with the other groups. Maternal nutrient restriction at the other periods had no effect on the number of muscle fibers in the newborn lambs; however, a decrease (LM, P < 0.05; VL, P < 0.01; ST, P = 0.08) in muscle weight was observed in the lambs born to the ewes restricted between d 85 and 115 of gestation compared with the other groups. This study has shown that decreased maternal diet before muscle fiber formation will alter the muscle fiber development in the fetus. ©2005 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.

Citation

Fahey, A. J., Brameld, J. M., Parr, T., & Buttery, P. J. (2005). The effect of maternal undernutrition before muscle differentiation on the muscle fiber development of the newborn lamb. Journal of Animal Science, 83(11), 2564-2571. https://doi.org/10.2527/2005.83112564x

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 12, 2005
Online Publication Date Nov 1, 2005
Publication Date 2005-11
Deposit Date Feb 9, 2021
Journal Journal of Animal Science
Electronic ISSN 1525-3163
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 83
Issue 11
Pages 2564-2571
DOI https://doi.org/10.2527/2005.83112564x
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3153884
Publisher URL https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/83/11/2564/4803118?redirectedFrom=fulltext