Severe feed restriction of pregnant swine and rats: effects on postweaning growth and body composition of progeny.

Rats and swine were restricted in feed during pregnancy to determine the effect on postnatal growth and development of the progeny. Restriction of rats to 50% of preconception feed intake during the first 2 wk of gestation was associated with higher body weight of the progeny at 21 wk postpartum than was ad libitum feeding throughout gestation. However, maternal intake during gestation had no effect on perirenal and gonadal fat weight or adipocyte size in male and female offspring at 160 d of age. Restriction of swine to one-third of recommended feed intake during the first 10 wk of pregnancy was associated in the progeny with less perirenal and subcutaneous backfat and smaller adipocytes in depot fat compared with progeny of adequately fed swine. It is concluded that feed restriction of pregnant rats to one-half of preconception intake for the first two-thirds of pregnancy results in increased weight gain in the resulting progeny while restriction of swine to one-third of the recommended feed allowance during the first two-thirds of pregnancy results in reduced postweaning weight gain and decreased fat accretion during young adulthood.