Effects of maternal nutrition and one-carbon metabolite supplementation on fetal jejunal morphology and hexose transporter expression in beef cattle

Authors: DANESHI, MOJTABA - North Dakota State University; BOROWICZ, PAWEL - North Dakota State University; MONTGOMERY, VIRGINIA - North Dakota State University; ENTZIE, YSSI - North Dakota State University; SYRING, JESSICA - North Dakota State University; KING, LAYLA - University Of Minnesota Crookston; SAFAIN, KAZI - North Dakota State University; ANAS, MUHAMMAD - North Dakota State University; REYNOLDS, LAWRENCE - North Dakota State University; WARD, ALISON - University Of Saskatchewan; DAHLEN, CARL - North Dakota State University; Crouse, Matthew; CATON, JOEL - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Veterinary Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/11/2025
Publication Date: 9/13/2025
Citation: Daneshi, M., Borowicz, P.P., Montgomery, V., Entzie, Y.L., Syring, J.G., King, L.E., Safain, K.S., Anas, M., Reynolds, L.P., Ward, A.K., Dahlen, C.R., Crouse, M.S., Caton, J.S. 2025. Effects of maternal nutrition and one-carbon metabolite supplementation on fetal jejunal morphology and hexose transporter expression in beef cattle. Veterinary Sciences. 12. Article 884. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090884.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090884

Interpretive Summary: Maternal nutrition during early pregnancy plays a vital role in the development of the fetus, shaping health and productivity outcomes later in life. Poor maternal nutrition can impair the structure and function of the fetal intestine which is, critical for nutrient absorption and energy metabolism. One-carbon metabolism, involving compounds like methionine, folate, choline, and vitamin B12, contributes to fetal development by supporting epigenetic changes that regulate gene expression. This study investigated how maternal nutrient restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation affect the fetal jejunum, a key region of the small intestine responsible for nutrient uptake. We found that maternal nutrient restriction increased villus height, while OCM supplementation enhanced intestinal muscle thickness and modulated hexose transporter abundance, which may optimize nutrient absorption and supporting fetal adaptation to restricted nutrition. These findings highlight the importance of maternal nutrition and targeted supplementation strategies to improve livestock health and efficiency.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal nutrient restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation on jejunal morphology and the abundance of hexose transporters (SLC2A1, SLC2A2, SLC2A3, SLC2A5, and SLC5A1) in bovine fetal jejunum. Twenty-nine crossbred Angus beef heifers were estrus-synchronized and artificially inseminated with female-sexed semen, then randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design with two main factors: nutritional plane [control (CON) vs. restricted feed intake (RES)] and OCM supplementation [without OCM (-OCM) or with OCM (+OCM)]. From day 0 to 63 of gestation, CON heifers were fed to gain 0.45 kg/d, and RES heifers were fed to lose 0.23 kg/d. After d 63, all heifers received a common diet targeting a gain of 0.45 kg/d until d 161, when they were slaughtered for tissue collection and analysis. Hexose transporter abundance was evaluated via immunofluorescence and image analysis. Restricted maternal nutrition increased (p = 0.005) fetal villous height, whereas crypt depth was influenced (p = 0.02) by maternal nutrition × OCM supplementation, with RES + OCM showing deeper crypts. Muscle layers thicknesses also tended (p