REVIEW PAPER
Nutrition in the expression of reproductive potential
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Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division,
Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK
Publication date: 2001-06-28
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2001;10(Suppl. 1):15-27
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ABSTRACT
Until recently, studies of the influence of nutrition on reproductive events such as the timing of
puberty, the occurrence of ovulation in single-ovulating species and the actual numbers of ova shed
in 'multiple ovulators' such as the pig and sheep dominated nutritional aspects of reproduction research. The emphasis is now switching to studies of the impact of nutrition during key periods of
development in utero on subsequent production potential including reproduction. Already there is
evidence that nutrition during early embryonic development can affect the foetal growth trajectories
and size at birth. There are also data to indicate that nutrition during oogenesis not only affects
ovulation rate but also embryo development and possibly the nature of the subsequent foetal growth
and development processes. Coming at a time when functional genomics is capturing the attention of
nutritionists, these observations are providing a unique and valuable opportunity to carry out research linking whole animal production responses with the underlying molecular and cellular biology. The present review describes a range of examples of the effects of dietary nutrients on gene
expression during key periods of embryonic and foetal development. In doing so it illustrates the
impact that nutrition in utero could have on improving animal production through its contribution to
functional genomics.
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Life in the Frozen State
Amanda Pickard, William Holt