https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index en-au 5 https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:17477 0.1). At term, no dietary effect on birthweight was observed (P > 0.1) and males were not heavier than females (P > 0.1). These results suggest that maternal protein intake during the peri-conception (-60 to 23dpc) and first trimester (24-98dpc) may influence early conceptus growth and development in the bovine. The long-term effects on offspring metabolism and post-natal development of this dietary intervention are yet to be determined. © CSIRO 2014.]]> Wed 11 Apr 2018 09:22:40 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:37825 n = 360) were individually fed a high- or low-protein diet (HPeri and LPeri) from 60 days before conception. From 24 until 98 days post conception, half of each treatment group changed to the alternative post-conception high- or low-protein diet (HPost and LPost) yielding four treatment groups in a 2 x 2 factorial design. A subset of male fetuses (n = 25) was excised at 98 days post conception and fetal testis development was assessed. Reproductive development of singleton male progeny (n = 40) was assessed until slaughter at 598 days of age, when adult testicular cytology was evaluated. Low peri-conception diet delayed reproductive development: sperm quality was lowered during pubertal development with a concomitant delay in reaching puberty. These effects were subsequent to lower FSH concentrations at 330 and 438 days of age. In the fetus, the low peri-conception diet increased the proportion of seminiferous tubules and decreased blood vessel area in the testis, whereas low first trimester diet increased blood vessel number in the adult testis. We conclude that maternal dietary protein perturbation during conception and early gestation may alter male testis development and delay puberty in bulls.]]> Tue 11 May 2021 15:20:38 AEST ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:45559 n = 27) was characterised by immunohistochemistry and by mRNA analyses. Stroma was identified by immunostaining of stromal matrix collagen type I and proliferating cells were identified by Ki67 expression. The cortical and medullar volume expanded across gestation, with the rate of cortical expansion slowing over time. During gestation, the proportion of stroma in the cortex and total volume in the cortex significantly increased (P < 0.05). The proliferation index and numerical density of proliferating cells in the stroma significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the numerical density of cells in the stroma did not change (P > 0.05). The expression levels of 12 genes out of 18 examined, including osteoglycin (OGN) and lumican (LUM), were significantly increased later in development (P < 0.05) and the expression of many genes was positively correlated with other genes and with gestational age. Thus, the rate of cortical stromal expansion peaked in early gestation due to cell proliferation, whilst late in development expression of extracellular matrix genes increased.]]> Tue 01 Nov 2022 13:09:00 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:24305 Thu 17 Mar 2022 14:38:18 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:19577 Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:58:20 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:19576 Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:58:20 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:19578 n = 9, 5 males, 4 females) and Control (n = 14, 8 males, 6 females) neonatal lambs at 21 days of age. The mRNA expression of the insulin signaling molecules, AMP-kinase (AMPK) and adipogenic/lipogenic genes was determined by qRT-PCR, and protein abundance by Western Blotting. AMPKα2 mRNA expression was increased in male IUGR lambs (0.015 ± 0.002 v. 0.0075 ± 0.0009, P < 0.001). The proportion of the AMPK pool that was phosphorylated (%P-AMPK) was lower in IUGR lambs compared with Controls independent of sex (39 ± 9% v. 100 ± 18%, P < 0.001). The mRNA expression and protein abundance of insulin signaling proteins and adipogenic/lipogenic genes was not different between groups. Thus, IUGR is associated with sex-specific alterations in the mRNA expression of AMPKα2 and a reduction in the percentage of the total AMPK pool that is phosphorylated in the omental adipose tissue of neonatal lambs, before the onset of visceral obesity. These molecular changes would be expected to promote lipid accumulation in the omental adipose depot and may therefore contribute to the onset of visceral adiposity in IUGR animals later in life.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:58:20 AEDT ]]> https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:26513 0.05) but low PCN decreased the size of the neonate (crown-rump-length and metacarpal length P< 0.05). A subset of lambs euthanased at 5 days of age further showed that low PCN decreased the amount of peri-renal fat (P < 0.05) and increased liver mass (P < 0.05) while high PCN increased neck thymus and ovary mass (P < 0.05). Neonatal lambs from low PCN ewes returned faster to their mothers after release (P < 0.05) and contacted the udder in the shortest time (P < 0.05). Significant interactions between PCN treatment and sex (P < 0.05) and between PCN treatment and ewe age (P < 0.05) were also observed for time lambs took to follow the ewe. Survival of lambs was similar but potential differences may have been masked by favourable weather conditions. In conclusion, this study provides evidence of significant changes in lamb growth and development dependent on PCN and, for the first time, links these changes with significant changes in behaviour of the neonate. The impact of these effects on lamb survival and potential reproductive capacity of female offspring remains to be determined.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:35:32 AEDT ]]>