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  • Title: Maternal low-protein diet affects myostatin signaling and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of offspring piglets at weaning stage.
    Author: Liu X, Pan S, Li X, Sun Q, Yang X, Zhao R.
    Journal: Eur J Nutr; 2015 Sep; 54(6):971-9. PubMed ID: 25266448.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: We tested the hypothesis that maternal low-protein (LP) diet during gestation and lactation can program myostatin (MSTN) signaling and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of offspring at weaning stage (35 days). METHODS: Fourteen Meishan sows were fed either LP or standard-protein diets throughout gestation and lactation, male offspring piglets were killed at weaning stage and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles were taken. The cross-sectional areas (CSA) of LD muscles were measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of free amino acids in plasma were measured by amino acid auto-analyzer. Proteins and mRNA were determined by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. RESULTS: Body weight, LD muscle weight and the myofiber CSA were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in LP piglets; meanwhile, the concentration of branched-chain amino acids was also significantly decreased (P < 0.001). MSTN protein content tended to be higher (P = 0.098) in LP piglets, while the expression of MSTN receptors, activin type II receptor-beta and transforming growth factor type-beta type I receptor kinase, was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05). Furthermore, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, the downstream signaling factor of MSTN, was also enhanced significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, key factors of translation initiation, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 4E and the 70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase, were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in LP piglets. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that maternal LP diet during gestation and lactation affects MSTN signaling and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of offspring at weaning stage.
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