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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412747
Research Project: Optimizing Nutrient Management and Efficiency of Beef Cattle and Swine

Location: Nutrition, Growth and Physiology

Title: One-carbon metabolite supplementation influences fetal liver metabolites and metabolic pathways in a diet-dependent manner during early pregnancy in heifers

Author
item SAFAIN, KAZI - North Dakota State University
item Crouse, Matthew
item SYRING, JESSICA - North Dakota State University
item KING, LAYLA - North Dakota State University
item ENTZIE, YSSI - North Dakota State University
item WARD, ALISON - University Of Saskatchewan
item DAHLEN, CARL - North Dakota State University
item CATON, JOEL - North Dakota State University
item SWANSON, KENDALL - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Current Developments in Nutrition
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/11/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Objective: The study investigated the effects of nutrient restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation on fetal liver metabolomics in pregnant beef heifers, focusing on amino acid, cofactors and vitamins, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism at day 63 of gestation. Methods: Thirty-one cross-bred Angus heifers were artificially inseminated and assigned to one of four nutritional groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The first factor was gain, which included control diet (CON; 0.45 kg/day ADG) versus restricted diet (RES; -0.23 kg/day). The second factor was OCM: supplementation (+OCM; methionine [7.4 g/day] and ruminal protected choline [44.4 g/day] in a ground corn carrier, and injections of 20 mg vitamin B12 and 320 mg folate weekly) or no supplementation (-OCM; injection of saline and corn carrier). Metabolomic analysis of fetal liver tissues collected at 63 days of gestation was conducted using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy. Statistical analyses included Two-Way ANOVA and Welch’s two-sample T-tests, with pathway enrichment analyzed using MetaboLync and MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Results: Approximately 23% of the metabolites in the fetal liver were influenced by either dietary gain, OCM supplementation, or their interaction. Most of these metabolites were found in greater concentrations in the CON versus RES, particularly in pathways related to lysine, leucine and glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism; however, specific metabolic pathways including glutamate, histidine, methionine, and tocopherol metabolism saw an increase in metabolite levels in RES compared to CON (P = 0.05). Moreover, OCM supplementation resulted in a greater abundance of metabolites (P = 0.05), affecting pathways associated with lysine, methionine, guanidino and acetamido, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Notably, OCM supplementation with moderate rate of gain increased concentrations of ophthalmate, N-acetylglucosamine, ascorbic acid 3-sulfate, and 3-methylglutarylcarnitine. Conclusions: The nutritional treatments appear to influence fetal metabolism and provide insights into the impact of maternal nutrition on the development of the fetal liver metabolism during early gestation. Funding Sources: Supported by USDA, which is an equal opportunity provider and employer.