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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330485
Title: Effects of supplementing holstein heifers with dietary melatonin during late gestation on growth and cardiovascular measurements of their offspring

Author
item BROCKUS, KATELYN - Mississippi State University
item HART, CAITLIN - Mississippi State University
item FLEMING, BLAIRE - Mississippi State University
item SMITH, TRENT - Mississippi State University
item WARD, STEPHANIE - Mississippi State University
item LEMLEY, CALEB - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Reproduction in Domestic Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2016
Publication Date: 2/9/2016
Citation: Brockus, K.E., Hart, C., Fleming, B.O., Smith, T., Ward, S.H., Lemley, C.O. 2016. Effects of supplementing holstein heifers with dietary melatonin during late gestation on growth and cardiovascular measurements of their offspring. Reproduction of Domestic Animals. 51:240-247.

Interpretive Summary: he objective was to examine the effects of supplementing dams with dietary melatonin during late gestation on offspring growth and cardiovascular measurements. On day 190 of gestation, heifers (n = 20) were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments consisting of 20 mg of dietary melatonin per day [melatonin (MEL)] or no melatonin supplementation [control (CON)]. Early post-natal growth was altered in offspring born to dams supplemented with dietary melatonin. Melatonin is an inexpensive therapeutic supplement which we have previously shown to increase uterine artery blood flow during mid to late gestation. This increase in maternal blood flow could alter offspring organ growth and development. For example, alterations in offspring blood distribution could be programmed in utero, which could undoubtedly lead to alterations in the physiological capacity of various organs. Identifying therapeutic supplementation strategies to improve foetal development and organ system capacities could lead to increasing offspring production and longevity. In order for future implications of foetal programming to be observed, additional research will need to be conducted.

Technical Abstract: The objective was to examine the effects of supplementing dams with dietary melatonin during late gestation on offspring growth and cardiovascular measurements. On day 190 of gestation, heifers (n = 20) were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments consisting of 20 mg of dietary melatonin per day [melatonin (MEL)] or no melatonin supplementation [control (CON)]. Dietary treatments were terminated on day 262 of gestation. At birth, calves were separated from their dams with no further treatments. Calf (n = 18) blood pressure, cortisol, nitrites and total antioxidant capacity were collected on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 of age. Calf hepatic portal blood flow and concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 were determined on weeks 0 and 4 of age. Calf body weight, abdominal girth, hip height and wither height increased (p < 0.05) with age. An age by treatment interaction (p < 0.01) was observed for calf body weight, which was increased at weeks 8 and 9 of age in calves born to MEL heifers compared to calves born to CON heifers. Pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, absolute hepatic portal blood flow and blood flow relative to calf body weight were not different (p > 0.05) between treatments. A main effect of calf age (p < 0.05) was observed for concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1, which was decreased at week 4 compared to week 0. An age by treatment interaction (p < 0.05) was observed for cortisol, which was decreased at week 2 in calves from MEL-treated dams compared to calves from CON-treated dams. Early post-natal growth was altered in offspring born to dams supplemented with dietary melatonin. This could lead to further foetal programming implications in conjunction with post-natal development.