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Published on: October 25, 2015
Transcriptome profiling of hepatic and renal mRNAs and lncRNAs under a nutritional restriction during pregnancy in a
Changzheng Guo1, Yanfeng Xue1, Daming Sun1
1Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the transcriptome profiles of liver and kidney in pregnant sheep under a nutritional restriction. Twenty Hu sheep were segregated into control group (CON) and severe feed restriction (FR) group. Results showed that the concentration of insulin decreased, whereas glucagon, epinephrine, and norepinephrine increased in the FR group. Histological morphology showed no apparent difference in terms of fat deposition in the kidney. In addition, FR significantly decreased the hepatic gene expression of gluconeogenic genes. However, in the kidney, the relative mRNA expression levels of gluconeogenic genes and glucose transporter 1 were observed to increase while the mRNA expression of sodium-glucose co-transporter 1 were decreased by FR. The differentially expressed genes in the liver were associated with fatty acid metabolism and inflammation. In the kidney, FR mainly activated the gluconeogenesis improving negative energy balance. These results provide a better understanding of the consequences of starvation during pregnancy.
