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Effects of Breed, Parity, and Folic Acid Supplement on the Expression of Leptin and Its Receptors' Genes in Embryonic and Endometrial Tissues from Pigs at Day 25 of Gestation¹

^a Department of Animal Science and Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4 ^b Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lennoxville, Québec, Canada J1M 1Z3

ABSTRACT

Recent evidence has pointed toward a possible role of leptin (Lep) and its receptor (Lepr) in early gestation materno-fetal cross-talk. However, in gestating sows, exhaustive characterization of leptin mRNA expression in backfat and leptin-receptor mRNA expression in endometrial and embryonic tissues is still pending. The objectives of this study were to characterize the Lep, Lepr, and long Lepr-L isoform mRNA expression according to the breed and parity of gestating sows or to specific folic acid (B₉) + glycine dietary treatments. To this end, nulliparous (GT) and multiparous occidental Yorkshire-Landrace (YL) sows as well as multiparous Chinese Meishan-Landrace (ML) sows were used. These sows were randomly assigned to two different dietary treatments: 0 or 15 ppm of B₉ + 0.6% glycine, given from the estrous preceding mating until slaughter on Day 25 of gestation. Jugular blood samples were collected at mating and on Day 25 of gestation and assayed for circulating leptin concentrations. Expression levels of Lep in backfat and of Lepr and Lepr-L in endometrial and embryonic tissues were performed using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results demonstrated that on Day 25 of pregnancy, the ML sows showed higher concentrations of circulating leptin along with higher backfat thickness and higher expression of Lep in backfat tissue. Moreover, in embryonic tissues, the mRNA expression levels of Lepr and Lepr-L genes were higher in ML than in YL sows. Parity effects were observed for mRNA expression of Lepr in both endometrial and embryonic tissues, whereas mRNA levels were higher in YL than in GT sows. In addition, embryonic Lepr-L mRNA levels were higher in GT than in YL sows, and B₉ + glycine dietary supplement decreased the mRNA expression levels of Lep in backfat and of Lepr in embryonic tissues. These decreases were independent of breed or parity of the sows. The effect of B₉ + glycine on Lepr-L mRNA expression levels was only seen in YL sows, whereas the treatment lowered Lepr-L expression levels in both endometrial and embryonic tissues. These results indicate that leptin and its receptor may play a role during early stages of development of the pig embryo-fetus, and that these roles could be modulated according to the breed and parity of the sows. Moreover, the effects of B₉ + glycine on expression levels of embryonic and endometrial Lepr-L mRNA in YL sows may explain the previously reported effects of B₉ on embryo survival rate and litter size observed in occidental multiparous sows.

FOOTNOTES

First decision: 8 December 2000.

¹ F.G. is supported by NSERC Fellowship. This work was partially subsidized by Genetiporc, Inc. (St-Bernard, PQ, Canada), Hoffmann-LaRoche (Basel, Switzerland, and Mississauga, ON, Canada), and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Lennoxville Dairy and Swine R&D Centre contribution 696.

² Correspondence: Marie-France Palin, Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, 2000 Route 108 CP 90, Lennoxville, PQ, Canada J1M 1Z3. FAX: 819 564 5507; palinmf{at}em.agr.ca

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