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¹ Institute of Clinical Research, Centre for Reproduction and Early Life,
² Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre,
³ School of Nursing, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
⁴ Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
⁵ Astra Zeneca, Alderley Park, Cheshire, UK
⁶ Discipline of Physiology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia

(Requests for offprints should be addressed to M E Symonds; Email: michael.symonds{at}nottingham.ac.uk)

The liver is a major metabolic and endocrine organ of critical importance in the regulation of growth and metabolism. Its function is determined by a complex interaction of nutritionally regulated counter-regulatory hormones. The extent to which hepatic endocrine sensitivity can be programed in utero and whether the resultant adaptations persist into adulthood is unknown and was therefore the subject of this study. Young adult male sheep born to mothers that were fed either a control diet (i.e.100% of total live weight-maintenance requirements) throughout gestation or 50% of that intake (i.e. nutrient restricted (NR)) from 0 to 95 days gestation and thereafter 100% of requirements (taking into account increasing fetal mass) were entered into the study. All mothers gave birth normally at term, the singleton offspring were weaned at 16 weeks, and then reared at pasture until 3 years of age when their livers were sampled. NR offspring were of similar birth and body weights at 3 years of age when they had disproportionately smaller livers than controls. The abundance of mRNA for GH, prolactin, and IGF-II receptors, plus hepatocyte growth factor and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 were all lower in livers of NR offspring. In contrast, the abundance of the mitochondrial protein voltage-dependent anion channel and the pro-apoptotic factor Bax were up regulated relative to controls. In conclusion, maternal nutrient restriction in early gestation results in adult offspring with smaller livers. This may be mediated by alterations in both hepatic mitogenic and apoptotic factors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M A Hyatt, E A Butt, H Budge, T Stephenson, and M E Symonds Effects of maternal cold exposure and nutrient restriction on the ghrelin receptor, the GH-IGF axis, and metabolic regulation in the postnatal ovine liver Reproduction, May 1, 2008; 135(5): 723 - 732. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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