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Maternal Supplementation of L‐carnitine Alters the Maternal and Fetal IGF Axis in Swine
Author(s) -
Brown K R,
Goodband R D,
Tokach M D,
Dritz S S,
Nelssen J L,
Minton J E,
Woodworth J C,
Johnson B J
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a425-c
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , fetus , insulin like growth factor , carnitine , gestation , insulin like growth factor binding protein , skeletal muscle , biology , myometrium , growth factor , messenger rna , pregnancy , uterus , receptor , biochemistry , genetics , gene
We investigated the influence of supplemental L‐carnitine on the uterine and placental insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) system, circulating IGF‐I in pregnant gilts, circulating fetal IGF‐II, and the expression of IGFs and binding proteins in the hepatic tissue and skeletal muscle of fetal pigs at day 40, 55, and 70 of gestation. Maternal IGF‐I plasma concentrations decreased ( P <0.01) from day 0 to 70 with no influence of supplemental carnitine. Fetal IGF‐II levels were lower ( P =0.09) and fetuses were heavier ( P =0.06) at d 70 in gilts fed L‐carnitine. Insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3; P =0.05) and IGFBP‐5 mRNA increased ( P =0.01) and IGF‐I mRNA numerically increased ( P =0.16) in the endometrium of gilts supplemented with L‐carnitine. From d 40 to 55, IGF‐I, IGFBP‐3, and IGFBP‐5 mRNA decreased ( P <0.04) in the myometrium. Placental IGF‐I mRNA tended to increase ( P =0.08) as gestation length increased. Fetal IGF‐I mRNA was lower ( P =0.05) in hepatic tissue from dams supplemented L‐carnitine. As gestation length increased, IGFBP‐3 mRNA increased ( P <0.02) in the fetal hepatic tissue and IGF‐I mRNA increased ( P <0.02) in skeletal muscle. Fetal skeletal muscle IGFBP‐3 mRNA decreased ( P =0.04) from day 40 to 55, but increased ( P =0.02) from day 55 to 70. These data demonstrate that L‐carnitine supplementation and gestation length alter the expression of the IGF axis at the fetal‐maternal interface in swine. These changes in the IGF axis could play a fundamental role in porcine fetal growth and development.