Effects of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on the development and function of ovine fetal liver

This study investigated the effects of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on the development and function of ovine fetal liver. Eighteen ewes with singleton fetuses were allocated to three groups at d 90 of pregnancy: Restricted Group 1 (RG1, 0.175 MJ ME kg BW−0.75 d−1, n = 6), Restricted Group 2 (RG2, 0.33 MJ ME kg BW−0.75 d−1, n = 6) and a Control Group (CG, ad libitum, 0.67 MJ ME kg BW−0.75 d−1, n = 6). Fetuses were recovered at slaughter on d 140. Fetuses in the RG1 group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) liver weight, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), cholinesterase (CHE), total protein (TP), globulin (GLB), and alanine transaminase (ALT). In addition, intermediate changes were found in the RG2 fetuses, including decreased liver weight, T-AOC and CHE (P < 0.05). In contrast, increases in fetal hepatic collagen fibers and reticular fibers, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthase (NOs), monoamine oxidase (MAO), albumin (ALB)/GLB, aspartate transaminase (AST), and AST/ALT were found in the RG1 fetuses (P < 0.05). The RG2 fetuses had increased fetal hepatic collagen fibers, NOs and MAO (P < 0.05) relative to the control fetuses. These results indicate that impaired fetal hepatic growth, fibrosis, antioxidant imbalance and dysfunction were associated with maternal undernutrition.