Effect of maternal undernutrition in early gestation on the development of fetal myofibres in the guinea-pig.

A 40% restriction in maternal feed intake throughout gestation in the guinea-pig results in a 35% reduction in fetal body weight at term and a 20-25% reduction in muscle fibre number. To investigate the effect of maternal undernutrition in early gestation, four nutritional treatments were used: controls-pregnant females fed ad libitum throughout gestation; TR-fed 60% ad libitum intake throughout gestation; ER-fed 60% ad libitum for the first third of gestation (until Day 25), then ad libitum to term; LR-fed ad libitum for the first 25 days, then 60% of ad libitum to term. The LR group were complicated by a high degree of fetal resorption and early littering of viable litters. The biceps brachii and soleus muscles were removed from neonates and total muscle fibre numbers determined. In a second experiment a further 8 pregnant guinea-pigs were fed 60% ad libitum until Day 15 of gestation only, and then rehabilitated onto an ad libitum diet (VER). Of these, 5 guinea-pigs were killed at term and the remaining 3 at 45 days gestation. Fetuses and placentae were obtained from all VER animals and compared with TR and controls of a similar age. Body weights were reduced in all restricted groups at term when compared with controls (P < 0.05) by 12, 40 and 50% for VER = ER, TR and LR groups, respectively. Biceps fibre number was reduced (P < 0.05) in ER, TR and LR groups by 28, 20 and 25%, respectively, but was not affected in the VER group. Soleus fibre number was not significantly affected by any nutritional treatment. Restriction for 15 days in early gestation caused a significant 20% increase in fetal weight at 45 days' gestation compared with controls, but muscle and placental weights were not affected. Analysis of placental components at Days 45 and 65 suggested that underfeeding in early gestation and subsequent refeeding caused some placental adaptations to increase the exchange-surface area. A short period of maternal undernutrition in the first third of gestation alone (ER), therefore, resulted in a biceps brachii fibre number deficit similar to that caused by restriction throughout gestation only if the period of restriction extended as far as Day 25. Furthermore, fetal weight at term was impaired by short-term nutritional restriction in early gestation. Restriction in the last two-thirds of gestation, following an ad libitum diet in the first third, caused a reduction in biceps fibre number and had a severe effect on the maintenance of pregnancy. It is probable that undernutrition in early gestation had an indirect effect on muscle fibre number by affecting the development of the placenta. This could be avoided by nutritional rehabilitation before Day 25 of gestation, but appeared to be permanent thereafter. Undernutrition after Day 25 may have had a direct effect on the development of secondary fibres.