Maternofetal inflammation induced for 2 wk in late gestation reduced birth weight and impaired neonatal growth and skeletal muscle glucose metabolism in lambs

Neonatal resveratrol administration promotes skeletal muscle growth and insulin sensitivity in intrauterine growth-retarded suckling piglets associated with activation of FGF21-AMPKα pathway

BACKGROUND

Skeletal muscle is a major insulin-sensitive tissue with a pivotal role in modulating glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol (RES) intervention during the suckling period on skeletal muscle growth and insulin sensitivity of neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in a pig model.

RESULTS

Twelve pairs of normal birth weight (NBW) and IUGR neonatal male piglets were selected. The NBW and IUGR piglets were fed basal formula milk diet or identical diet supplemented with 0.1% RES from 7 to 21 days of age. Myofiber growth and differentiation, inflammation and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle were assessed. Early RES intervention promoted myofiber growth and maturity in IUGR piglets by ameliorating the myogenesis process and increasing thyroid hormone level. Administering RES also reduced triglyceride concentration in skeletal muscle of IUGR piglets, along with decreased inflammatory response, increased plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) concentration and improved insulin signaling. Meanwhile, the improvement of insulin sensitivity by RES may be partly regulated by activation of the FGF21/AMP-activated protein kinase α/sirtuin 1/peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that RES has beneficial effects in promoting myofiber growth and maturity and increasing skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in IUGR piglets, which open a novel field of application of RES in IUGR infants for improving postnatal metabolic adaptation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Daily injection of the β2 adrenergic agonist clenbuterol improved poor muscle growth and body composition in lambs following heat stress-induced intrauterine growth restriction

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with reduced β2 adrenergic sensitivity, which contributes to poor postnatal muscle growth. The objective of this study was to determine if stimulating β2 adrenergic activity postnatal would rescue deficits in muscle growth, body composition, and indicators of metabolic homeostasis in IUGR offspring. Methods: Time-mated ewes were housed at 40°C from day 40 to 95 of gestation to produce IUGR lambs. From birth, IUGR lambs received daily IM injections of 0.8 μg/kg clenbuterol HCl (IUGR+CLEN; n = 11) or saline placebo (IUGR; n = 12). Placebo-injected controls (n = 13) were born to pair-fed thermoneutral ewes. Biometrics were assessed weekly and body composition was estimated by ultrasound and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Lambs were necropsied at 60 days of age. Results: Bodyweights were lighter (p ≤ 0.05) for IUGR and IUGR+CLEN lambs than for controls at birth, day 30, and day 60. Average daily gain was less (p ≤ 0.05) for IUGR lambs than controls and was intermediate for IUGR+CLEN lambs. At day 58, BIA-estimated whole-body fat-free mass and ultrasound-estimated loin eye area were less (p ≤ 0.05) for IUGR but not IUGR+CLEN lambs than for controls. At necropsy, loin eye area and flexor digitorum superficialis muscles were smaller (p ≤ 0.05) for IUGR but not IUGR+CLEN lambs than for controls. Longissimus dorsi protein content was less (p ≤ 0.05) and fat-to-protein ratio was greater (p ≤ 0.05) for IUGR but not IUGR+CLEN lambs than for controls. Semitendinosus from IUGR lambs had less (p ≤ 0.05) β2 adrenoreceptor content, fewer (p ≤ 0.05) proliferating myoblasts, tended to have fewer (p = 0.08) differentiated myoblasts, and had smaller (p ≤ 0.05) muscle fibers than controls. Proliferating myoblasts and fiber size were recovered (p ≤ 0.05) in IUGR+CLEN lambs compared to IUGR lambs, but β2 adrenoreceptor content and differentiated myoblasts were not recovered. Semitendinosus lipid droplets were smaller (p ≤ 0.05) in size for IUGR lambs than for controls and were further reduced (p ≤ 0.05) in size for IUGR+CLEN lambs. Conclusion: These findings show that clenbuterol improved IUGR deficits in muscle growth and some metabolic parameters even without recovering the deficit in β2 adrenoreceptor content. We conclude that IUGR muscle remained responsive to β2 adrenergic stimulation postnatal, which may be a strategic target for improving muscle growth and body composition in IUGR-born offspring.

Dousing the flame: reviewing the mechanisms of inflammatory programming during stress-induced intrauterine growth restriction and the potential for ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intervention

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) arises when maternal stressors coincide with peak placental development, leading to placental insufficiency. When the expanding nutrient demands of the growing fetus subsequently exceed the capacity of the stunted placenta, fetal hypoxemia and hypoglycemia result. Poor fetal nutrient status stimulates greater release of inflammatory cytokines and catecholamines, which in turn lead to thrifty growth and metabolic programming that benefits fetal survival but is maladaptive after birth. Specifically, some IUGR fetal tissues develop enriched expression of inflammatory cytokine receptors and other signaling cascade components, which increases inflammatory sensitivity even when circulating inflammatory cytokines are no longer elevated after birth. Recent evidence indicates that greater inflammatory tone contributes to deficits in skeletal muscle growth and metabolism that are characteristic of IUGR offspring. These deficits underlie the metabolic dysfunction that markedly increases risk for metabolic diseases in IUGR-born individuals. The same programming mechanisms yield reduced metabolic efficiency, poor body composition, and inferior carcass quality in IUGR-born livestock. The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are diet-derived nutraceuticals with anti-inflammatory effects that have been used to improve conditions of chronic systemic inflammation, including intrauterine stress. In this review, we highlight the role of sustained systemic inflammation in the development of IUGR pathologies. We then discuss the potential for ω-3 PUFA supplementation to improve inflammation-mediated growth and metabolic deficits in IUGR offspring, along with potential barriers that must be considered when developing a supplementation strategy.

Primary myoblasts from intrauterine growth-restricted fetal sheep exhibit intrinsic dysfunction of proliferation and differentiation that coincides with enrichment of inflammatory cytokine signaling pathways

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is linked to lifelong reductions in muscle mass due to intrinsic functional deficits in myoblasts, but the mechanisms underlying these deficits are not known. Our objective was to determine if the deficits were associated with changes in inflammatory and adrenergic regulation of IUGR myoblasts, as was previously observed in IUGR muscle. Primary myoblasts were isolated from IUGR fetal sheep produced by hyperthermia-induced placental insufficiency (PI-IUGR; n = 9) and their controls (n = 9) and from IUGR fetal sheep produced by maternofetal inflammation (MI-IUGR; n = 6) and their controls (n = 7). Proliferation rates were less (P < 0.05) for PI-IUGR myoblasts than their controls and were not affected by incubation with IL-6, TNF-α, norepinephrine, or insulin. IκB kinase inhibition reduced (P < 0.05) proliferation of control myoblasts modestly in basal media but substantially in TNF-α-added media and reduced (P < 0.05) PI-IUGR myoblast proliferation substantially in basal and TNF-α-added media. Proliferation was greater (P < 0.05) for MI-IUGR myoblasts than their controls and was not affected by incubation with TNF-α. Insulin increased (P < 0.05) proliferation in both MI-IUGR and control myoblasts. After 72-h differentiation, fewer (P < 0.05) PI-IUGR myoblasts were myogenin+ than controls in basal and IL-6 added media but not TNF-α-added media. Fewer (P < 0.05) PI-IUGR myoblasts were desmin+ than controls in basal media only. Incubation with norepinephrine did not affect myogenin+ or desmin+ percentages, but insulin increased (P < 0.05) both markers in control and PI-IUGR myoblasts. After 96-h differentiation, fewer (P < 0.05) MI-IUGR myoblasts were myogenin+ and desmin+ than controls regardless of media, although TNF-α reduced (P < 0.05) desmin+ myoblasts for both groups. Differentiated PI-IUGR myoblasts had greater (P < 0.05) TNFR1, ULK2, and TNF-α-stimulated TLR4 gene expression, and PI-IUGR semitendinosus muscle had greater (P < 0.05) TNFR1 and IL6 gene expression, greater (P < 0.05) c-Fos protein, and less (P < 0.05) IκBα protein. Differentiated MI-IUGR myoblasts had greater (P < 0.05) TNFR1 and IL6R gene expression, tended to have greater (P = 0.07) ULK2 gene expression, and had greater (P < 0.05) β-catenin protein and TNF-α-stimulated phosphorylation of NFκB. We conclude that these enriched components of TNF-α/TNFR1/NFκB and other inflammatory pathways in IUGR myoblasts contribute to their dysfunction and help explain impaired muscle growth in the IUGR fetus.

Intermittent maternofetal oxygenation during late gestation improved birthweight, neonatal growth, body symmetry, and muscle metabolism in intrauterine growth-restricted lambs

In humans and animals, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) results from fetal programming responses to poor intrauterine conditions. Chronic fetal hypoxemia elevates circulating catecholamines, which reduces skeletal muscle β2 adrenoceptor content and contributes to growth and metabolic pathologies in IUGR-born offspring. Our objective was to determine whether intermittent maternofetal oxygenation during late gestation would improve neonatal growth and glucose metabolism in IUGR-born lambs. Pregnant ewes were housed at 40 °C from the 40th to 95th day of gestational age (dGA) to produce IUGR-born lambs (n = 9). A second group of IUGR-born lambs received prenatal O2 supplementation via maternal O2 insufflation (100% humidified O2, 10 L/min) for 8 h/d from dGA 130 to parturition (IUGR+O2, n = 10). Control lambs (n = 15) were from pair-fed thermoneutral ewes. All lambs were weaned at birth, hand-reared, and fitted with hindlimb catheters at day 25. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and hindlimb hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HEC) studies were performed at days 28 and 29, respectively. At day 30, lambs were euthanized and ex vivo HEC studies were performed on isolated muscle. Without maternofetal oxygenation, IUGR lambs were 40% lighter (P < 0.05) at birth and maintained slower (P < 0.05) growth rates throughout the neonatal period compared with controls. At 30 d of age, IUGR lambs had lighter (P < 0.05) hindlimbs and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscles. IUGR+O2 lambs exhibited improved (P < 0.05) birthweight, neonatal growth, hindlimb mass, and FDS mass compared with IUGR lambs. Hindlimb insulin-stimulated glucose utilization and oxidation rates were reduced (P < 0.05) in IUGR but not IUGR+O2 lambs. Ex vivo glucose oxidation rates were less (P < 0.05) in muscle from IUGR but not IUGR+O2 lambs. Surprisingly, β2 adrenoceptor content and insulin responsiveness were reduced (P < 0.05) in muscle from IUGR and IUGR+O2 lambs compared with controls. In addition, GSIS was reduced (P < 0.05) in IUGR lambs and only modestly improved (P < 0.05) in IUGR+O2. Insufflation of O2 also increased (P < 0.05) acidosis and hypercapnia in dams, perhaps due to the use of 100% O2 rather than a gas mixture with a lesser O2 percentage. Nevertheless, these findings show that intermittent maternofetal oxygenation during late gestation improved postnatal growth and metabolic outcomes in IUGR lambs without improving muscle β2 adrenoceptor content.

The Price of Surviving on Adrenaline: Developmental Programming Responses to Chronic Fetal Hypercatecholaminemia Contribute to Poor Muscle Growth Capacity and Metabolic Dysfunction in IUGR-Born Offspring

Maternofetal stress induces fetal programming that restricts skeletal muscle growth capacity and metabolic function, resulting in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of the fetus. This thrifty phenotype aids fetal survival but also yields reduced muscle mass and metabolic dysfunction after birth. Consequently, IUGR-born individuals are at greater lifelong risk for metabolic disorders that reduce quality of life. In livestock, IUGR-born animals exhibit poor growth efficiency and body composition, making these animals more costly and less valuable. Specifically, IUGR-associated programming causes a greater propensity for fat deposition and a reduced capacity for muscle accretion. This, combined with metabolic inefficiency, means that these animals produce less lean meat from greater feed input, require more time on feed to reach market weight, and produce carcasses that are of less quality. Despite the health and economic implications of IUGR pathologies in humans and food animals, knowledge regarding their specific underlying mechanisms is lacking. However, recent data indicate that adaptive programing of adrenergic sensitivity in multiple tissues is a contributing factor in a number of IUGR pathologies including reduced muscle mass, peripheral insulin resistance, and impaired glucose metabolism. This review highlights the findings that support the role for adrenergic programming and how it relates to the lifelong consequences of IUGR, as well as how dysfunctional adrenergic signaling pathways might be effective targets for improving outcomes in IUGR-born offspring.

Going Up Inflame: Reviewing the Underexplored Role of Inflammatory Programming in Stress-Induced Intrauterine Growth Restricted Livestock

The impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on health in humans is well-recognized. It is the second leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide, and it is associated with deficits in metabolism and muscle growth that increase lifelong risk for hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Comparatively, the barrier that IUGR imposes on livestock production is less recognized by the industry. Meat animals born with low birthweight due to IUGR are beset with greater early death loss, inefficient growth, and reduced carcass merit. These animals exhibit poor feed-to-gain ratios, less lean mass, and greater fat deposition, which increase production costs and decrease value. Ultimately, this reduces the amount of meat produced by each animal and threatens the economic sustainability of livestock industries. Intrauterine growth restriction is most commonly the result of fetal programming responses to placental insufficiency, but the exact mechanisms by which this occurs are not well-understood. In uncompromised pregnancies, inflammatory cytokines are produced at modest rates by placental and fetal tissues and play an important role in fetal development. However, unfavorable intrauterine conditions can cause cytokine activity to be excessive during critical windows of fetal development. Our recent evidence indicates that this impacts developmental programming of muscle growth and metabolism and contributes to the IUGR phenotype. In this review, we outline the role of inflammatory cytokine activity in the development of normal and IUGR phenotypes. We also highlight the contributions of sheep and other animal models in identifying mechanisms for IUGR pathologies.

Influence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Systemic Inflammation in Pregnancy

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in pregnancy and it is associated with adverse pregnancy-related outcomes such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and low birth weight. Maternal systemic inflammation is proposed to be one of the main intermediate mechanisms. However, the effects of OSA on systemic inflammation are unknown in normal pregnancy.

Methods: Women in the 3rd trimester underwent hospital polysomnography to evaluate whether OSA increases systemic inflammation in normal pregnancy and its potential association with adverse fetal outcomes. OSA was defined as an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥ 5 h⁻¹. Plasma cytokines levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were determined by multiple immunoassays.

Results: We included 11 patients with OSA and 22 women with AHI < 5 h⁻¹, who were homogeneous in age, and body mass index (BMI). Women with OSA had significant higher levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10. We found significant correlations between AHI during REM and TNF-α (r = 0.40), IL-1β (r = 0.36), IL-6 (r = 0.52), IL-8 (r = 0.43), between obstructive apnea index and TNF-α (r = 0.46) and between AHI and IL-1β (r = 0.43). We also found that CT90% was related to IL-8 (r = 0.37). There were no significant differences in neonatal characteristics; however, we found inverse correlations between TNF-α and IL-8 with birth weight (both r = −0.48), while IL-8 showed a significant inverse relationship with neonatal gestational age (r = −0.48).

Conclusions: OSA in our normal pregnancy population was associated with higher systemic inflammation, which was related to obstructive events, especially during REM sleep. Moreover, systemic inflammation was inversely correlated with neonatal birth weight and age.

Dietary dimethylglycine sodium salt supplementation improves growth performance, redox status, and skeletal muscle function of intrauterine growth-restricted weaned piglets

Few studies have focused on the role of dimethylglycine sodium (DMG-Na) salt in protecting the redox status of skeletal muscle, although it is reported to be beneficial in animal husbandry. This study investigated the beneficial effects of DMG-Na salt on the growth performance, longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) redox status, and mitochondrial function in weaning piglets that were intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR). Ten normal birth weight (NBW) newborn piglets (1.53 ± 0.04 kg) and 20 IUGR newborn piglets (0.76 ± 0.06 kg) from 10 sows were obtained. All piglets were weaned at 21 d of age and allocated to the three groups with 10 replicates per group: NBW weaned piglets fed a common basal diet (N); IUGR weaned piglets fed a common basal diet (I); IUGR weaned piglets fed a common basal diet supplemented with 0.1% DMG-Na (ID). They were slaughtered at 49 d of age to collect the serum and LM samples. Compared with the N group, the growth performance, LM structure, serum, and, within the LM, mitochondrial redox status, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, energy metabolites, redox status-related, cell adhesion-related, and mitochondrial function-related gene expression, and protein expression deteriorated in group I (P < 0.05). The ID group showed improved growth performance, LM structure, serum, and, within the LM, mitochondrial redox status, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, energy metabolites, redox status-related, cell adhesion-related, and mitochondrial function-related gene expression, and protein expression compared with those in the I group (P < 0.05). The above results indicated that the DMG-Na salt treatment could improve the LM redox status and mitochondrial function in IUGR weaned piglets via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/sirtuin 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγcoactivator-1α network, thus improving their growth performance.