Expression of the Ovine Hippocampal Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) and Mineralcorticoid Receptor, and Adrenal Melanocortin 2 Receptor and GR Genes in Offspring Born to Ewes Supplemented with Fishmeal and Challenged with Endotoxin During Late Pregnancy

Abstract Text:

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin challenge during late gestation can alter hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis (HPAA) development of the fetus. In this study, ewes were fed fishmeal (FM) or soybean meal (SM) from gestation day (gd) 100 through lactation to determine if n-3 PUFA supplementation influences LPS-induced fetal programming. Half the ewes from each dietary treatment were administered LPS or saline control (CON) on gd135. At 6-months-of-age, female offspring were slaughtered and RT-PCR was performed to assess the expression of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and mineralcorticoid receptors (MR), and adrenal melanocortin 2 receptors (MC2R) and GR. The FM+CON offspring had the greatest hippocampal GR and MR expression, and FM+LPS offspring had higher GR expression compared to SM+LPS offspring. However, the reverse was true with hippocampal MR expression. This study demonstrates hippocampal GR and MR expression is influenced by LPS-simulated maternal infection and by supplementation with FM. 

Keywords:

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Sheep

n-3 PUFA