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Effects of early-and mid-pregnancy under-nutrition on maternal and foetal plasma free amino acid concentrations in Scottish Blackface and Suffolk sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

J A Rooke*
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
M Werkman
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
K McIlvaney
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
C M Dwyer
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
C J Ashworth
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Extract

Nutrient intake during pregnancy affects foetal development and placental function in a range of species, often with long-term effects on offspring viability. Maternal supply and placental transport of amino acids are key to delivering amino acids for foetal metabolism. Maternal under-nutrition has been shown to reduce both maternal and foetal amino acid concentrations even after a period of re-feeding (Kwon et al. 2004). Intriguingly whether sheep have been adapted to a harsh environment or not appears to influence the extent of any reduction (Jobgen et al. 2008). The present study therefore tested whether plasma amino acid concentrations differed between Scottish Blackface (B) sheep adapted to a hill environment and a lowland breed (Suffolk, S) selected for lean tissue growth when challenged by a period of under-nutrition.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Jobgen, W.S., Ford, S.P., Jobgen, S.C., Feng, C.P., Hess, B.W., Nathanielz, P.W. Li, P. and Wu, G. 2008. Journal of Animal Science 86, 820–826.Google Scholar
Kwon, H., Ford, S.P., Bazer, F.W., Spencer, T.E., Nathanielsz, P.W., Nijland, M.J., Hess, B.W. and Wu, G 2004. Biology of Reproduction 71, 901–908.Google Scholar
Werkman, M., Rooke, J.A., McIlvaney, K., Dwyer, C.M. and Ashworth, C.J. 2009 Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, Annual Meeting, 73.Google Scholar