The Impact of Maternal and Piglet Low Protein Diet and Their Interaction on the Porcine Liver Transcriptome around the Time of Weaning.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether maternal late-gestation and nursery piglet diets with varying protein levels influence piglet metabolism.
Results Summary
The study found that mismatched maternal and nursery diets (high-low or low-high protein) led to differential gene expression in piglets, with upregulated genes linked to catabolic pathways, lipid metabolism, and inflammation compared to matched diets.
Population
Sows and their piglets (swine model).
Effective Dosage
Sows received 12% or 17% crude protein (CP) during late gestation; piglets received 16.5% or 21% CP post-weaning.
Duration
Last five weeks of gestation for sows; from weaning at 3.5 weeks for piglets (sampled at 4.5 weeks).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower (12%) crude protein in sow late gestation diet | neutral | offspring phenotype | piglets | - | affected | #1 |
Higher (17%) crude protein in sow late gestation diet | neutral | offspring phenotype | piglets | - | affected | #2 |
Mismatch between sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet | decrease | 25 genes | piglet hepatic tissues | 25 genes | downregulated | #3 |
Mismatch between sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet | increase | 22 genes | piglet hepatic tissues | 22 genes | upregulated | #4 |
Mismatch between sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet | increase | genes involved in catabolic pathways | piglet hepatic tissues | - | upregulated | #5 |
Mismatch between sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet | increase | genes involved in lipid metabolism | piglet hepatic tissues | - | upregulated | #6 |
Mismatch between sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet | increase | genes involved in inflammation | piglet hepatic tissues | - | upregulated | #7 |
Sow late gestation diet | neutral | piglet metabolism | piglets | - | could be used to optimize | #8 |
Maternal diet during early gestation affects offspring phenotype, but it is unclear whether maternal diet during late gestation influences piglet metabolism. We evaluated the impact of two dietary protein levels in sow late gestation diet and piglet nursery diet on piglet metabolism. Diets met or exceeded the crude protein and amino acid requirements. Sows received either 12% (Lower, L) or 17% (Higher, H) crude protein (CP) during the last five weeks of gestation, and piglets received 16.5% (L) or 21% (H) CP from weaning at age 3.5 weeks. This resulted in a 2 × 2 factorial design with four sow/piglet diet treatment groups: HH and LL (match), HL and LH (mismatch). Piglet hepatic tissues were sampled and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined by RNA sequencing. At age 4.5 weeks, 25 genes were downregulated and 22 genes were upregulated in the mismatch compared to match groups. Several genes involved in catabolic pathways were upregulated in the mismatch compared to match groups, as were genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation. The results show a distinct interaction effect between maternal and nursery diets, implying that sow late gestation diet could be used to optimize piglet metabolism.