The effects of undernutrition, in utero, on reproductive function in adult male and female sheep

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy on adult reproductive function in male and female offspring. Groups of ewes were fed rations providing either 100% (High, H) or 50% (Low, L) of estimated metabolisable energy (ME) requirements for pregnanc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal reproduction science 2002-07, Vol.72 (1), p.63-71
Main Authors: Rae, M.T, Kyle, C.E, Miller, D.W, Hammond, A.J, Brooks, A.N, Rhind, S.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animals
Birth Weight
Embryonic and Fetal Development - physiology
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - blood
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology
Luteinizing Hormone - blood
Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology
Male
Nutrition
Nutrition Disorders - blood
Nutrition Disorders - physiopathology
Nutrition Disorders - veterinary
Ovulation - physiology
Ovulation rate
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Reproduction - physiology
Semen - physiology
Semen quality
Sheep
Sheep Diseases - blood
Sheep Diseases - physiopathology
Testis - drug effects
Testis - growth & development
Testosterone - blood
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Summary:The aim of this study was to determine the effects of maternal undernutrition during pregnancy on adult reproductive function in male and female offspring. Groups of ewes were fed rations providing either 100% (High, H) or 50% (Low, L) of estimated metabolisable energy (ME) requirements for pregnancy, from mating until day 95 of gestation, and thereafter were conventionally managed. At 20 months of age, LH and FSH profiles, and LH responses to exogenous GnRH were measured in male and female offspring and, in males, testicular responses to exogenous LH (as measured by testosterone concentrations) were also measured. Undernutrition had no effect on the mean birth weights of lambs of either sex, or on testicular size in male animals at either 6 weeks or 20 months of age. L males exhibited significantly higher FSH concentrations than H males ( P
ISSN:0378-4320
1873-2232
DOI:10.1016/S0378-4320(02)00068-4