VETINDEX

Periódicos Brasileiros em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia

p. 168-183

Programação de desenvolvimento embrionário: A nutrição da égua pode influenciar a saúde do potro?

Chavatte-Palmer, PascaleRobles, Morgane

As demonstrated in humans and animal models, prenatal developmental conditions can affect phenotype, through adaptive changes that induce persistent modifications in offspring gene expression. Although epigenetic modifications, shown in other species to be seminal to these effects, have not yet been demonstrated in horses, the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) nevertheless apply to the equine species. The physiological, metabolic and nutritional status of the mare, such as her parity, her body condition or whether the dam is fed cereals during gestation or is obese, are key elements that may affect foal health and metabolism. The placenta, that orchestrates feto-maternal exchanges, adapts to maternal conditions and is considered as a major programming agent. Although so far, there are no reliable, easily applicable, biomarkers of adverse programming of the foal, the use of supplementary feeds, such as maternal arginine, is currently being explored to try and restore optimal placental function in adverse conditions.(AU)

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