Maternal nutrient restriction upregulates growth signaling pathways in the cotyledonary artery of cow placentomes

Placenta. 2007 Apr;28(4):361-8. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2006.04.005. Epub 2006 Jul 5.

Abstract

This study evaluated the role of MAPK/ERK1/2 and/or PI3-K/Akt signaling pathways in modulating bovine placentomal vascularity in response to maternal nutrient restriction. Beef cows were randomly assigned to control fed (Control, n=15, 100% of requirements) or nutrient restricted (NR, n=15, 50% requirements) diets from day 30 to day 125 of gestation. Ten cows from each dietary group were necropsied on day 125 (approximately 45% gestation), and the remaining cows in each diet group were then fed control diets and necropsied on day 250 (approximately 90% gestation). At day 125 of gestation, NR cows exhibited increased (P=0.06) COT vascularity, improved (P<0.05) placentome efficiency (fetal weight/placentomal weight), and increased (P<0.05) phosphorylated Akt and ERK1/2 in COT arteries compared to Control cows. By day 250, however, treatment differences in COT vascularity and phosphorylated Akt and ERK1/2 in COT arteries were lost. On both gestational days, no treatment difference was observed in the levels of phosphorylated Akt or ERK1/2 in CAR arteries. CAR vascularity was similar across treatment on day 125, but tended to be greater (P<0.10) in NR than Control cows on day 250. These data suggest that conceptuses react to an early gestational nutrient restriction by up-regulating COT growth signaling pathways associated with angiogenesis, and that these compensations do not persist to term.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fetal Weight
  • Food Deprivation / physiology*
  • Gestational Age
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Organ Size
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Placenta / blood supply*
  • Placental Circulation / physiology*
  • Placentation
  • Pregnancy
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases