Tissue-Specific Mitochondrial Functionality and Mitochondrial-Related Gene Profiles in Response to Maternal Nutrition and One-Carbon Metabolite Supplementation During Early Pregnancy in Heifers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mitochondria are essential for fetal development, regulating energy metabolism and metabolic programming. This study examined how maternal nutrition and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation during early gestation affect mitochondrial function in fetal liver and muscle at day 161 of gestation in beef heifers.

Methods

Twenty-nine crossbred Angus heifers were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design: control (CON; 0.45 kg/day ADG) or restricted gain (RES; -0.23 kg/day), with or without OCM supplementation. Treatments were applied from breeding to day 63 of gestation, after which all heifers received a common diet. Fetal liver and muscle tissues were collected at day 161. Mitochondrial respiration (Seahorse assay), mtDNA copy number (qPCR)

SUBMITTER: Safain KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12466886 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature