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Developmental programming of skeletal muscle phenotype/metabolism.
T C W Markham1, R M Latorre, P G Lawlor
11Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK.
Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience
|March 27, 2012
Summary
Increased maternal nutrition during gestation enhances offspring skeletal muscle oxidative capacity by altering muscle fiber composition, specifically increasing Type IIA fibers. This impacts muscle phenotype without changing overall muscle size or fiber count.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Developmental Biology
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Maternal nutrition significantly influences fetal development, impacting skeletal muscle.
- Previous studies on maternal feeding strategies and offspring muscle development show inconsistent results.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for livestock and human health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of supra-nutritional maternal feeding regimens during gestation on the skeletal muscle phenotype of progeny.
- To analyze changes in muscle fiber composition and oxidative capacity in offspring exposed to altered maternal nutrition.
Main Methods:
- 24 pregnant sows were assigned to four feeding groups with varying digestible energy levels during gestation.
- Offspring (littermate pairs) were raised to slaughter and M. semitendinosus samples analyzed.
- Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining were employed to identify muscle fiber types and regions.
Main Results:
- Increased maternal nutrition led to altered skeletal muscle phenotype in offspring.
- A significant increase in Type IIA muscle fibers was observed, enhancing oxidative capacity.
- No significant changes were found in total muscle area, total fiber number, or fiber cross-sectional area.
Conclusions:
- Supra-nutritional maternal diets during specific gestation periods can modify offspring skeletal muscle characteristics.
- The observed increase in Type IIA fibers suggests enhanced oxidative potential in offspring muscle.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for these adaptations.
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