PSIV-28 Program Chair Poster Pick: The Effects of Poor Maternal Nutrition During Gestation on Ewe and Offspring Plasma Concentrations of Leptin and Ghrelin

Abstract Poor maternal nutrition (restricted- and over-feeding) during gestation may alter leptin and ghrelin, key hormones in energy homeostasis and appetite control. They may also have a regulatory role in maternal metabolic adaptations critical during gestation to ensure optimal offspring growth and development. We hypothesized that restricted- and over-feeding during gestation would alter plasma concentrations of leptin and ghrelin in ewes and their offspring. Pregnant Western White-faced ewes were individually fed 60% (RES; n = 13), 100% (CON; n = 11), or 140% (OVER; n = 13) of NRC requirements for TDN starting on d 30±0.02 of gestation. Blood samples were collected in the morning from fasted pregnant ewes weekly from d 20 of gestation until parturition and from offspring (n = 31) within 24 hours after birth. Leptin and ghrelin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS with main effects of treatment, day of gestation and their interaction. Leptin (P < 0.002) and ghrelin (P < 0.015) concentrations were altered in pregnant ewes between treatments within a day of gestation. At d 100 (P = 0.008) and d 128 (P = 0.04), RES ewes (5.392.58 ng/mL; 6.392.50 ng/mL) had decreased leptin concentrations compared with OVER ewes (14.972.48 ng/mL; 13.612.47 ng/mL), with CON ewes intermediate. RES ewes (0.260.04 ng/mL) had increased ghrelin concentrations compared with CON ewes at d 142 (0.150.04 ng/mL; P = 0.042), with OVER ewes intermediate. Leptin (P < 0.002) and ghrelin (P < 0.015) concentrations were altered between days of gestation within a dietary treatment. Leptin concentration increased across gestation in OVER ewes. In RES ewes, leptin concentration decreased and ghrelin concentration increased over gestation. Leptin (P = 0.5) and ghrelin (P = 0.5) concentrations in lambs were not different at birth. Alterations in leptin and ghrelin in ewes during gestation may disrupt critical metabolic adaptations that may contribute to suboptimal offspring growth and development.