Effects Of Intrauterine Growth Restriction During Late Pregnancy On Liver Cell Apoptosis And Signal Pathway In Mongolia Ovine Fetus

This paper mainly investigated the effects of intrauterine growth restriction during late pregnancy on liver cell apoptosis and signal pathway in Mongolia ovine fetus and in order to provide theoretical basis and reference for anti-disaster, protecting livestock, ewes’feeding and management during late pregnancy, clinical applications.The techniques of synchronous estrus and artificial insemination were applied on35Mongolian ewes, which had similar live weight (mean52.38±2.03kg).6ewes were slaughtered at90d of gestation and the remaining29animals were allocated to three different groups:Restricted Groupl (RG1,0.175MJME·kgw-0.75·d-1, n=12), Restricted Group2(RG2,0.33MJME·kgw-0.75·d-1, n=9) and Control Group (CG, ad libitum,0.67MJME·kgw-0.75·d-1, n=8). At140d of gestation,6representative ewes in each group were slaughtered.1. Effects of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on Mongolia ewes and their fetusWith the nutrients supply decreasing during late pregnancy, maternal body weight were significantly reduced in RG2, RG1groups (p<0.01). Maternal net body weight loss of ewes were7.24kg (p<0.01) and tissues of the ewes were mobilized14.24%in RG2group (p<0.01); Maternal net body weight loss of ewes were14.24kg (p<0.01) and tissues of the ewes were mobilized22.91%in RG1group (p<0.01). The GLU concentration of ewes in blood were significantly decreased in RG1group when compared to RG2, CG groups (p<0.01), on the contrary, the BHBA concentration were significantly increased when compared to RG2, CG groups (p<0.01) and the NEFA concentration were greatly higher than those of RG2(p<0.05), CG (p<0.01) groups at120d of gestation; The GLU, TAA and ALB concentration were greatly lower in RG2, RG1groups than those of CG group (p<0.01) and the TP and GLB concentration in RG1group were significantly decreased composed with CG group (p<0.01), however, the NEFA concentration in RG2, RG1groups were higher than those of CG group (p<0.01) and the BHBA concentration in RG1group was increased composed with RG2, CG group (p<0.01). The fetal weight and ADG were significantly decreased in RG2, RG1groups when composed to CG group(p<0.01), moreover, the PI (p<0.05), body length (p<0.05), thoracic girth (p<0.05), thoracic depth (p<0.05), umbllical girth (p<0.05), SRL (p＜0.01) and CRL (p<0.01) in RG1group were greatly lower than those of CG group. Comparison of the fetal TAA concentration, a significant decrease was found (p＜0.05), on the contrary, the NEFA (p<0.05) and BHBA (p＜0.01) concentrations were greatlt higher in RG1group; The INS concentration were lower (p<0.05) and the GH (p<0.01), Lep (p<0.05) concentrations were greatly higher in RG2and RG1groups; The IGF-1(p<0.05) and IGF-2(p＜0.01) concentrations were significantly decreased in RGl group composed with RG2, CG groups. The T-AOC concentration in RG2(p＜0.05) and RG1(p＜0.01) groups were greatly lower; The SOD activity decline (p<0.05), and GSH-Px activity (p<0.05), MDA content (p<0.05) rose in RG1group composed with CG group.2. Effects of IUGR during late pregnancy on growth and development of fetal liverWith the decreasing of the dietary energy density during late pregnancy, fetal liver weight and liver ADG were significantly decreased in RG2(p<0.05), RG1(p<0.01) groups, and brain/liver were increased in RG1(p<0.01) group composed with CG group. The structure of liver was loose and liver cells were irregular arrangement; The fat bubbles became more and bigger in cytoplasm; There were some inflammatory cell and the reticular fiber of the liver in RG2, RG1groups were increased and became thickened in relation to CG group. The fat (p<0.05) and protein (p<0.01) in fetal liver were mobilized in RG1group; The total DNA content and protein/DNA were significantly reduced in RG2, RG1groups when composed to CG group (p<0.01). The T-AOC concentration was lower (p<0.01) and MDA content was higher (p<0.01) in RG2, RG1groups than those of CG group, in addition, the SOD activity was decreased (p<0.01) and the GSH-Px activity was increased (p<0.01) in RG1group; The reduction of CHE and GLU concentrations were greatly enhanced (p<0.05) and the increasing of NOs and MAO concentrations were found (p<0.01) in RG2, RG1groups composed to CG group, furthermore, the NO concentration was higher (p<0.05). At the same time, the GOT activitiy (p<0.05) and GOT/GPT (p<0.01) in fetal blood was increased in RG1group.3. Effects of IUGR during late pregnancy on fetal liver cell apoptosis and signal pathwayWith the reduction of maternal energy density during late pregnancy, a significant increase of fetal liver cell apoptosis rate in RG2, RG1groups (p<0.01) when composed to CG group; The Caspase-9activity in RG2(p＜0.05), RG1(p＜0.01) groups and Cyt C concentration (p<0.01), Caspase-3activity(p＜0.01)in RG1group were higher than those of CG group; Although the Caspase-8activity in CG, RG2and RG1groups had the trend to increase, there were no significant difference (p>0.05). The p53, Bax and Fas genes expression trend to up-regulation, whereas, the Bcl-2and FasL trend to down-regulationin CG, RG2and RG1groups. For protein expression, the p53was higher in RG2(p＜0.05) RG1(p<0.01) groups and the Bax was also increased in RG2, RG1groups (p<0.01) however, the Bcl-2in RG1group was lower than those of CG group (p[<0.01)...