Maternal nutrient restriction in the ewe from early to midgestation programs reduced steroidogenic enzyme expression and tended to reduce progesterone content of corpora lutea, as well as circulating progesterone in nonpregnant aged female offspring

BACKGROUND

Previously we reported decreased circulating progesterone and fertility in one and two year old ewes born to undernourished mothers. This study was designed to investigate if this reduction in progesterone persisted into old age, and if it did, what mechanisms are involved.

METHODS

Ewes were fed a nutrient restricted (NR, 50% of NRC recommendations) or control (C, 100% of NRC) diets from day 28 to 78 of gestation, then all were fed to requirements through parturition and weaning. Female offspring (4 per treatment group) were maintained as a group and fed to requirements from weaning until assigned to this study at 6 years of age. Ewes were synchronized for estrus (day 0) and blood samples were collected daily from day 0 to day 11 before necropsy on day 12. Blood serum and luteal tissue were assayed for progesterone concentrations by validated radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

Circulation progesterone concentrations tended to be lower (P = 0.06) in NR than C offspring from day 0 to 11 of the estrous cycle. While total luteal weight was similar across groups, total progesterone content also tended to be reduced (P = 0.07) in luteal tissue of NR than C offspring. Activity of hepatic progesterone catabolizing enzymes and selected angiogenic factors in luteal tissue were similar between groups. Messenger RNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes StAR and P450scc were reduced (P < 0.05), while protein expression of StAR tended to be reduced (P < 0.07) and P450scc was reduced (P < 0.05) in luteal tissue of NR versus C offspring.

CONCLUSIONS

There appears to be no difference in hepatic steroid catabolism that could have led to the decreased serum progesterone. However, these data are consistent with the programming of decreased steroidogenic enzyme expression in CL of NR offspring, leading to reduced synthesis and secretion of progesterone.

Early maternal undernutrition programs increased feed intake, altered glucose metabolism and insulin secretion, and liver function in aged female offspring

Insulin resistance and obesity are components of the metabolic syndrome that includes development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes with advancing age. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis suggests that offspring of poorly nourished mothers are predisposed to the various components of the metabolic syndrome due to adaptations made during fetal development. We assessed the effects of maternal nutrient restriction in early gestation on feeding behavior, insulin and glucose dynamics, body composition, and liver function in aged female offspring of ewes fed either a nutrient-restricted [NR 50% National Research Council (NRC) recommendations] or control (C: 100% NRC) diet from 28 to 78 days of gestation, after which both groups were fed at 100% of NRC from day 79 to lambing and through lactation. Female lambs born to NR and C dams were reared as a single group from weaning, and thereafter, they were fed 100% NRC recommendations until assigned to this study at 6 yr of age. These female offspring were evaluated by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, followed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition analysis prior to and after ad libitum feeding of a highly palatable pelleted diet for 11 wk with automated monitoring of feed intake (GrowSafe Systems). Aged female offspring born to NR ewes demonstrated greater and more rapid feed intake, greater body weight gain, and efficiency of gain, lower insulin sensitivity, higher insulin secretion, and greater hepatic lipid and glycogen content than offspring from C ewes. These data confirm an increased metabolic "thriftiness" of offspring born to NR mothers, which continues into advanced age, possibly predisposing these offspring to metabolic disease.

Different levels of overnutrition and weight gain during pregnancy have differential effects on fetal growth and organ development

BACKGROUND

Nearly 50% of U.S. women of child-bearing age are overweight or obese, conditions linked to offspring obesity and diabetes.

METHODS

Utilizing the sheep, females were fed a highly palatable diet at two levels of overfeeding designed to induce different levels of maternal body weight increase and adiposity at conception, and from conception to midgestation. Fetal growth and organ development were then evaluated at midgestation in response to these two different levels of overfeeding. Ewes were fed to achieve: 1) normal weight gain (control, C), 2) overweight (125% of National Research Council [NRC] recommendations, OW125) or 3) obesity (150% of NRC recommendations, OB150) beginning 10 wks prior to breeding and through midgestation. Body fat % and insulin sensitivity were assessed at three points during the study: 1) diet initiation, 2) conception and 3) mid-gestation. Ewes were necropsied and fetuses recovered at mid-gestation (day 78).

RESULTS

OB150 ewes had a higher % body fat than OW125 ewes prior to breeding (P = 0.03), but not at mid-gestation (P = 0.37). Insulin sensitivity decreased from diet initiation to mid-gestation (P = 0.04), and acute insulin response to glucose tended to be greater in OB150 ewes than C ewes (P = 0.09) and was greater than in OW125 ewes (P = 0.02). Fetal crown-rump length, thoracic and abdominal girths, and fetal perirenal fat were increased in the OW125 and OB150 versus C ewes at mid-gestation. However, only fetal heart, pancreas, and liver weights, as well as lipid content of fetal liver, were increased (P < 0.05) in OB150 ewes versus both C and OW125 ewes at midgestation.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that different levels of overfeeding, resulting in differing levels of maternal weight gain and adiposity prior to and during pregnancy, lead to differential effects on fetal overgrowth and organ development.

Insulin sensitivity and glucose dynamics during pre-weaning foal development and in response to maternal diet composition

Nutritional management of animals during pregnancy can affect glucose and insulin dynamics in the resulting offspring through influences on fetal development. Additionally, high starch feeding in mature horses is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and an increased risk for diseases such as obesity and laminitis. However, no study has yet evaluated the effect of feeding a high starch diet to pregnant mares on glucose and insulin dynamics in their offspring. Twenty late-gestation mares maintained on pasture were provided two-thirds of digestible energy requirements from isocaloric, isonitrogenous low starch (LS, n=10) or high starch (HS, n=10) feed. Their foals were assessed with an insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test at 5, 40, 80, and 160 d of age. Baseline glucose concentrations, insulin sensitivity, and insulin-independent glucose clearance in 5-d foals were all greater than values observed in mature horses and declined towards mature values as foals reached 160 d of age. Baseline glucose concentrations were all within normal range, but higher in foals born from HS mares through 80 d of age. Insulin sensitivity was not different between dietary groups until a trend for lower insulin sensitivity in HS foals emerged at 160 d of age. These data are the first to characterize decreasing insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in Thoroughbred foals from 5 to 160 d of age. This study also presents the first data examining glucose and insulin dynamics in developing foals in response to maternal high starch diet.

cDNA cloning and characterisation of an alpha-glucosidase gene from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Using an Arabidopsis thaliana expressed sequence tag with sequence similarity to human lysosomal alpha-glucosidase as a probe, a potato cDNA was isolated. The cDNA encodes a polypeptide with an Mr value of 105,400 and the most significant matches of the deduced amino acid sequence are with members of family 31 of glucosyl transferase. The potato cDNA was expressed in a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is deficient in maltase activity and unable to grow using maltose as a carbon source (ABYSMAL81). Expression of the potato cDNA in the mutant yeast strain restores its ability to use maltose as a carbon source for growth. Additionally, alpha-glucosidase activity could be measured in extracts of the yeast cells following complementation. A range of maltodextrins were substrates for this activity. The steady-state expression level of the potato alpha-glucosidase gene was low in most tissues examined, the highest levels occurring in sprouting tubers and source leaves.

Surface roughness of glass-ceramic insert-composite restorations: assessing several polishing techniques

The authors compared the effectiveness of seven polishing methods on glass-ceramic insert-composite restorations placed in plastic resin squares. The polishing methods used carbide dental finishing burs and diamond polishing paste, diamond abrasive finishing burs and diamond polishing paste, diamond abrasive finishing burs and composite resin finishing disks, diamond abrasive finishing burs and composite resin polishing points, diamond abrasive finishing burs only, diamond abrasive finishing burs followed by resin impregnated disks and an aluminum oxide polishing abrasive paste, and diamond abrasive finishing burs followed by diamond polishing paste. All systems achieved comparable smoothness except the carbide finishing burs, which damaged the insert-composite margin.

Reduction of marginal gaps in composite restorations by use of glass-ceramic inserts

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of glass-ceramic inserts on reducing the marginal gaps caused by polymerization shrinkage in composite restorations. A light microscope was used to measure the largest gap at margins around restorations made in glass cylinders and tooth cavities with and without adhesion promoters. Where the cylinder was not silanated, the average gap was less in samples containing an insert than in those without. Two preparations were made in the dentin of 20 human molars. In each molar one cavity was restored with a dentin bonding agent and composite and the other with a dentin bonding agent and an insert seated in the composite. The average maximum gap width of restorations containing inserts was statistically less than for those with only composite (paired t-test, P<0.0001). When considering the volume of composite displaced by the insert, these results that the use of a glass-ceramic insert decreased the marginal gaps resulting form polymerization shrinkage.

Characterisation of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) gene of potato

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) is involved in the biosynthesis of the polyamines, spermidine and spermine. Recently, we reported the isolation of a putative cDNA clone of the SAMDC clone of potato (Plant Mol Biol 20; 641-651). In order to confirm that the potato genes does encode SAMDC, a complementation experiment with a yeast strain that possesses a null mutation in the SAMDC gene was performed. The yeast strain contains a deletion-insertion mutation in the SAMDC gene and has an absolute requirement for the addition of exogenous spermidine for growth. When the full-length potato cDNA was expressed in the mutant yeast strain there was no longer a requirement for exogenous spermidine. Immunoblotting experiments suggest that the potato SAMDC gene product has an apparent molecular mass of 39 kDa. Expression of the SAMDC gene was high in the young and actively dividing tissues and low in the mature and non-dividing tissues of both vegetative and reproductive organs. Additionally, isolation and characterisation of the corresponding genomic clone is reported. The gene has one intron in its 5'-untranslated sequence but otherwise the transcribed portion is identical to the cDNA clone.

Mechanical properties of direct and post-cured composites

Surface mechanical properties (diametral tensile strength, Knoop hardness, and Rockwell Superficial indentation and recovery) and bulk mechanical properties (compressive strength and modulus of elasticity in compression) of seven composites were measured in vitro under two curing conditions (light-curing only and light-curing plus manufacturer's recommended post-curing). Post-curing improved the Knoop hardeness by 7 to 46% and diametral tensile strength by 15 to 39% of some of the composites. None of the composites had improved compressive strength and only two had an improved modulus of elasticity.

An esthetic glass-ceramic for use in composite restoration inserts

The objective of the preliminary work reported here was to prepare an improved formulation of intrinsically colored microcrystalline glass-ceramic. Applications could include "megafillers" for direct composite restorations, precision castings, and CAD-CAM prostheses. The experimental glass-ceramic reported here contained SiO2 56.9, AI2O3 19, LiO2 7, ZnO 6, MgO 5, TiO22, ZrO22, P2O52, and CeO20.1 mole%. The batch materials were melted and stirred at 1,610 degrees C for 2 h, quenched in water and also formed into a block of a clear, slightly yellow glass. To identify the crystalline phases that developed during transformation of the glass to the ceramic, x-ray diffraction was used on ten aliquots taken during 15 h of stepwise heating from 750 to 1050 degrees C. With heating, the yellow color deepened to a very translucent "dark yellow" dental shade, then lightened with gradually increasing opacity during formation of secondary crystalline phases. X-ray opacity was approximately equivalent to that of dental enamel. The refractive index of the glass, nD1.554, increased during nucleation and growth of the crystalline phases to a maximum of 1.586. Intrinsic coloration of these glass-ceramic materials can be controlled by varying the heat treatment and/or composition to match typical dental shades.

Differential Expression and Sequence Analysis of Ribosomal Protein Genes Induced in Stolon Tips of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) during the Early Stages of Tuberization

cDNA clones of two genes, TUBS19 and TUBL7, which show a 15- to 20-fold increase in transcript level in the stolon tip during the early stages of tuberization, have been isolated by differential screening. These genes are also expressed in leaves, stems, and roots, and the expression pattern in these organs changes on tuberization. Southern analysis shows that there are similar sequences in the genome of nontuberizing wild-type potato species Solanum brevidens and in Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato). Sequence analysis reveals a high degree of similarity between the TUBS19 cDNA and the eukaryotic S19 ribosomal protein gene. TUBL7 cDNA shows similarity to another eukaryotic ribosomal protein gene, L7.

Isolation and molecular characterisation of a tuberisation-related cDNA clone from potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

A cDNA clone of a gene which shows a large increase in transcript level in the stolon tip during the early stages of tuberisation in potato (Solanum tuberosum) has been isolated by differential screening. This gene is also expressed at low levels in other parts of the plant including leaves and stems. Sequence analysis and comparison did not reveal any significant similarity with other gene sequences in the EMBL database. DNA-blot analysis indicates that the gene is present as a single copy in the potato genome and a restriction fragment length polymorphism exists between wild type and cultivated potatoes.