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Lactation Biology Symposium: lactocrine signaling and developmental programming
F F Bartol1, A A Wiley, D J Miller
1Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Program, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5517, USA. bartoff@auburn.edu
Journal of Animal Science
|October 27, 2012
Summary
Maternal lactocrine signaling, the transfer of factors from mother to offspring via nursing, is crucial for neonatal development. Disrupting this process in pigs significantly impacts reproductive tract development and gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Lactocrine signaling involves the transfer of bioactive factors from mother to offspring during nursing, supporting neonatal development.
- Mammalian development relies on maternal resources postnatally, particularly during the colostrum feeding period.
- The pig model (Sus scrofa domesticus) offers insights into lactocrine-mediated effects on reproductive and somatic tissue development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of lactocrine signaling in regulating uterine gland development and endometrial maturation in neonatal pigs.
- To examine the impact of a lactocrine-null state on gene expression and reproductive tract development.
- To determine the persistence of lactocrine-mediated effects on estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) expression.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of lactocrine signaling by feeding milk-replacer to create a lactocrine-null state in neonatal gilts.
- Analysis of endometrial gene expression patterns at specific postnatal days (PND 2 and PND 14).
- Assessment of uterine gland development and expression of ESR1 and VEGFA in endometrial and cervical tissues.
Main Results:
- Gilts in a lactocrine-null state for 2 days exhibited altered endometrial gene expression and delayed uterine gland development by PND 14.
- Inhibition of endometrial and cervical ESR1 and VEGFA expression was observed on PND 2 and persisted until PND 14 in lactocrine-null gilts.
- These effects remained even after gilts were returned to nursing, indicating a lasting impact of early lactocrine signaling disruption.
Conclusions:
- Lactocrine signaling plays a critical role in regulating key neonatal developmental events, particularly in the female reproductive tract.
- Maternal lactocrine programming influences postnatal development, potentially ensuring healthy developmental trajectories and reproductive potential.
- A systems biology approach is necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms of lactocrine signaling and its connection between genotype and phenotype.
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