Growth and Development 2

摘要

Trace minerals, Cu and Zn, play a key role in fetal development, beingrequired for immune system and muscle development. However, littleis known about the effects of maternal Cu and Zn nutrition on muscleand immune system development of ruminant offspring. Therefore, theobjective of this trial was to evaluate effects of trace mineral source onewe performance during gestation and epigenetic changes to muscleand immune function of their offspring. Ewes were allocated by bodyweight to receive: no additional Cu or Zn (CON); Cu and Zn sulfatessupplying 300% of NRC requirement (ITM); or Cu and Zn as chelates(MINTREX trace mineral, Novus International) supplying 300% of NRCrequirement (MMHAC). Treatments were fed 7 d before conception andthrough parturition. Following parturition, one lamb from every ewewas weighed and harvested at d 0 of life followed by a second lambat d 60. Jejunum, longissimus dorsi (LD), and thymus were weighedand sub-sampled from lambs for epigenetic and gene expression measures.Treatment and lamb sex were fixed effects in the model. Lambsharvested on d 0 tended to weigh greater (P < 0.10) when ewes werefed MMHAC compared with ITM. Weight of LD on d 0 tended (P <0.09) to be greater for lambs from ewes fed MMHAC compared withITM, with no other differences in organ weights observed on d 0 or d60. Global histone acetylation tended (P < 0.10) to be greater in LDof lambs from ewes fed MMHAC compared with ITM or CON on d0. Expression of FoxO3 on d 0 was significantly (P < 0.05) lower inLD of lambs from ewes fed MMHAC and CON compared with ITM.Expression of IκBKB tended (P < 0.09) to be greatest, while TNFαtended (P < 0.09) to be lowest, in jejunal tissue of lambs from ewesfed ITM or MMHAC compared with CON on d 0. Expression of TLR2tended (P < 0.09) to be greatest in jejunal tissue of lambs from ewesfed CON compared with ITM or MMHAC on d 60. Villi width andmuscular thickness tended (P < 0.06) to be lower in jejunum of lambsfrom ewes fed ITM or MMHAC compared with CON on d 60. Thesedata suggest trace mineral supplementation throughout gestation affectsprogeny muscle development and immune function.