Glucose tolerance in pregnant sows and liver glycogen in neonatal piglets is influenced by diet composition in gestation

摘要

In sows, as in many other species, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity decrease in late gestation to meet the increasing demand for glucose by the foetuses (Pere et al., 2007). Glucose is the main energetic substrate utilized by the foetus and is stored in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscle. Adequate glycogen stores are necessary to ensure survival of the neonatal piglets when colostrum intake is below requirements. However, in sows little information is available about the relationship between insulin resistance, development of glycogen stores and viability in neonatal piglets. Also the influence of diet composition during gestation is scarcely studied. Van der Peet-Schwering et al. (2004) found a reduction in glucose tolerance in sows receiving an additional amount of fat in late gestation. Corson et al. (2003) suggested an effect of timing and composition of added dietary fat in the gestation diet on glucose tolerance in pregnant sows. The effects on piglet development were not reported. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of energy source in gestation diets on the development of glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in pregnant sows, liver glycogen in newborn piglets and viability of suckling piglets.