TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexually dimorphic effects of maternal dietary protein restriction on fetal growth and placental expression of 11β-HSD2 in the pig
AU - Shang, Yueli
AU - Jia, Yimin
AU - Sun, Qinwei
AU - Shi, Wei
AU - LI, Runsheng
AU - Wang, Song
AU - Sui, Shiyan
AU - Zhao, Ruqian
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China ( 2014CB138502, 2012CB124703 ), the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest ( 201003011 ), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities ( KYZ200913 ), and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions .
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2) inactivates glucocorticoids (GCs) to protect fetuses from over-exposure to maternal GCs, yet how maternal malnutrition affects placental 11β-HSD2 expression is unknown. In this study, Meishan sows were fed standard-protein (SP) or low-protein (LP, 50% of SP) diets and fetuses/newborn piglets were weighed and the corresponding placenta and umbilical cord blood were collected on gestational day 70 and the day of parturition. Significant growth retardation was observed in female, but not male, fetuses (P < 0.05) and the newborns (P < 0.01) of the LP group, which was accompanied by sexually dimorphic expression of 11β-HSD2 in placentas. Female fetuses in LP group showed significant decrease in placental 11β-HSD2 protein content (P < 0.05) and enzyme activity (P < 0.05), whereas male fetuses demonstrated significantly enhanced placental 11β-HSD2 activity (P < 0.05). Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in male piglets compared to females, and the effects of maternal protein restriction on thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) in the umbilical cord blood were also sex dimorphic. Male piglets in LP group had significantly higher T3 (P < 0.01) and lower T4 (P < 0.01), whereas female piglets showed significantly lower T4 (P < 0.01) with no change in T3. As a result, male piglets in LP group exhibited significantly higher T3/T4 ratio compared to female counterparts. These results indicate that the effects of maternal protein restriction on placental 11β-HSD2 expression are gender-dependent in the pig, and thyroid hormones may be involved in such effects.
AB - Placental 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (11β-HSD2) inactivates glucocorticoids (GCs) to protect fetuses from over-exposure to maternal GCs, yet how maternal malnutrition affects placental 11β-HSD2 expression is unknown. In this study, Meishan sows were fed standard-protein (SP) or low-protein (LP, 50% of SP) diets and fetuses/newborn piglets were weighed and the corresponding placenta and umbilical cord blood were collected on gestational day 70 and the day of parturition. Significant growth retardation was observed in female, but not male, fetuses (P < 0.05) and the newborns (P < 0.01) of the LP group, which was accompanied by sexually dimorphic expression of 11β-HSD2 in placentas. Female fetuses in LP group showed significant decrease in placental 11β-HSD2 protein content (P < 0.05) and enzyme activity (P < 0.05), whereas male fetuses demonstrated significantly enhanced placental 11β-HSD2 activity (P < 0.05). Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in male piglets compared to females, and the effects of maternal protein restriction on thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) in the umbilical cord blood were also sex dimorphic. Male piglets in LP group had significantly higher T3 (P < 0.01) and lower T4 (P < 0.01), whereas female piglets showed significantly lower T4 (P < 0.01) with no change in T3. As a result, male piglets in LP group exhibited significantly higher T3/T4 ratio compared to female counterparts. These results indicate that the effects of maternal protein restriction on placental 11β-HSD2 expression are gender-dependent in the pig, and thyroid hormones may be involved in such effects.
KW - 11β-HSD2
KW - Maternal protein restriction
KW - Meishan pigs
KW - Placenta
KW - Thyroid hormones
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939774071&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.001
DO - 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.001
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 26205550
AN - SCOPUS:84939774071
SN - 0378-4320
VL - 160
SP - 40
EP - 48
JO - Animal Reproduction Science
JF - Animal Reproduction Science
ER -