Publication: Growth parameters and their hormonal regulation in pigs are differently affected by sex and embryo origin
Authors
Heras, Sonia ; Quintero-Moreno, Armando ; Paris-Oller, Evelyne ; Soriano-Ubeda, Cristina ; Gadea, Joaquin ; Romar, Raquel ; Canovas, Sebastian ; Coy, Pilar
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/lecture
Description
Abstract
The global pig embryo trade has yet to emerge but replacing live animal transport with in vitro produced (IVP) embryos is a future objective. Understanding the potential long-term effects of in vitro protocols, especially in commercial traits like growth rates, is crucial. Our study aimed to compare growth parameters (body weight and length) and growth-related hormones (IGF-1 and T4) between IVP and artificially inseminated (AI) animals. Three experimental groups were defined, including 68 crossbred (Landrace x Large White) pigs that were allocated from a colony of animals produced in a previous study. IVP animals produced using BSA (C-IVP; 8 males, 16 females) or reproductive fluids (RF-IVP; 10 males, 7 females) as supplement for in vitro culture, were compared
to AI animals (AI; 9 males, 18 females). Paternally, all animals were sired by the same boar, while maternally, IVP animals were originated from ovaries obtained at a local abattoir. Growth was measured at birth, 3, 9, 15, every 15 days until 180, 365, 700, 900, 1100, 1250, 1450, 1650 and 1800 days of age. Blood was collected at 90, 180,
365, 700 and 900 days of age. Plasma hormone concentrations were determined using a solid phase, enzymelabeled competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model, with group, sex and age as fixed effects. Benjamini-Hochberg procedure was used for p-value correction and differences were considered significant when P< 0.05. Weight exhibited an exponential increase up to 6 months of age followed by a linear rise from 12 months of age. Levels of T4 decreased with age, and IGF-1 levels also decreased with age, but only in females and C-IVP males. Males were longer and heavier than females throughout the study. Additionally, males exhibited higher IGF-1 levels than females, while the opposite was observed for T4. Only in males, T4 levels negatively correlated with weight, and no correlation was observed between T4 and body length. IGF-1 positively correlated with weight and length until 6 months of age. IVP animals were significantly heavier (≤d180: 10.6 ± 1.1 kg; ≥365: 35.9 ± 5.4 kg) and longer (≤d180: 8.5 ± 0.8 cm; ≥365: 10 ± 1.9 cm) than those originated from AI throughout the study. In addition, C-IVP animals were heavier (4.3 ± 1.5 kg) and longer (3.2± 1.1 cm) than RF-IVP but only up to 6 months of age. Finally, in males, T4 levels of AI were higher than those of their IVP counterparts (1 ± 0.2 μg/dL) and IGF-1 levels of RF-IVP were higher than those of AI (36.1 ± 11.5 ng/mL).
In conclusion, the growth and growth-related hormones of males and females exhibited differences throughout the study. Specifically, males exhibited higher levels of IGF-1, while females exhibited higher levels of T4. While statistical differences were identified between experimental groups, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to determine the clinical sign ificance of these findings, if any.
publication.page.subject
Citation
Animal Reproduction 2024; 21(3)
item.page.embargo
Collections
Ir a Estadísticas
Este ítem está sujeto a una licencia Creative Commons. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/