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Keywords = non-offspring nursing

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17 pages, 2037 KiB  
Article
Nursing Behaviour in Alpacas: Parallels in the Andes and Central Europe, and a Rare Allonursing Occurrence
by Jana Marešová, Tersia Kokošková, Eliška Tichá and Tamara Fedorova
Animals 2025, 15(7), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070916 - 22 Mar 2025
Viewed by 580
Abstract
Understanding maternal behaviour is essential for good animal husbandry; yet, little scientific information currently exists regarding nursing behaviour of alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Moreover, allonursing (the nursing of non-filial offspring) has only been documented in captive non-domesticated guanacos. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Understanding maternal behaviour is essential for good animal husbandry; yet, little scientific information currently exists regarding nursing behaviour of alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Moreover, allonursing (the nursing of non-filial offspring) has only been documented in captive non-domesticated guanacos. This study aimed to (1) describe the nursing behaviour of alpacas within traditional husbandry systems in their place of origin, and in foreign conditions, and to (2) investigate the occurrence of allonursing in alpacas. A total of 1899 nursing bouts were observed in the Andes and Central Europe. Additionally, 102 Andean farmers were asked if they observed allonursing in their herds. Nursing behaviour was similar at both locations, with most of the nursing bouts initiated by crias and terminated by dams. However, several significant differences between localities were noted, such as the less frequent sniffing of crias by Andean dams. Crias’ age and sex did not affect the percentage of nursing bouts initiated or terminated by the dams. Rare cases of allonursing were recorded in Central Europe (n = 5), and 18.6% of surveyed Andean farmers reported allonursing in their herds. This study provides insight into alpaca nursing and allonursing behaviour, which may contribute towards their management both in their place of origin and farther. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Small Ruminants)
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26 pages, 5685 KiB  
Article
Prenatal Maternal Immune Activation with Lipopolysaccharide Accelerates the Developmental Acquisition of Neonatal Reflexes in Rat Offspring Without Affecting Maternal Care Behaviors
by Mary Beth Hall, Elise A. Lemanski and Jaclyn M. Schwarz
Biomolecules 2025, 15(3), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15030347 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1165
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA)—infection with an immunogen during pregnancy—is linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring. Both MIA and NDDs are associated with developmental delays in offsprings’ motor behavior. Therefore, the current study examined the effects of MIA on [...] Read more.
Maternal immune activation (MIA)—infection with an immunogen during pregnancy—is linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring. Both MIA and NDDs are associated with developmental delays in offsprings’ motor behavior. Therefore, the current study examined the effects of MIA on neonatal reflex development in male and female offspring. Sprague Dawley rats were administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 50 μg/mL/kg, i.p.) or saline on embryonic day (E)15 of gestation. The offspring were then tested daily from postnatal day (P)3–P21 to determine their neonatal reflex abilities. The maternal care behaviors of the dam were also quantified on P1–P5, P10, and P15. We found that, regardless of sex, the E15 LPS offspring were able to forelimb grasp, cliff avoid, and right with a correct posture at an earlier postnatal age than the E15 saline offspring did. The E15 LPS offspring also showed better performance of forelimb grasping, hindlimb grasping, righting with correct posture, and walking with correct posture than the E15 saline offspring did. There were no significant differences in maternal licking/grooming, arched-back nursing, non-arched-back nursing, or total nursing across the E15 groups. Overall, these findings suggest that MIA with LPS on E15 accelerates reflex development in offspring without affecting maternal care. This may be explained by the stress acceleration hypothesis, whereby early-life stress accelerates development to promote survival. Full article
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21 pages, 1668 KiB  
Review
Exploring Maternal Diet-Epigenetic-Gut Microbiome Crosstalk as an Intervention Strategy to Counter Early Obesity Programming
by Maria Felicia Faienza, Flavia Urbano, Federico Anaclerio, Luigi Antonio Moscogiuri, Fani Konstantinidou, Liborio Stuppia and Valentina Gatta
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(5), 4358-4378; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050265 - 6 May 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4655
Abstract
Alterations in a mother’s metabolism and endocrine system, due to unbalanced nutrition, may increase the risk of both metabolic and non-metabolic disorders in the offspring’s childhood and adulthood. The risk of obesity in the offspring can be determined by the interplay between maternal [...] Read more.
Alterations in a mother’s metabolism and endocrine system, due to unbalanced nutrition, may increase the risk of both metabolic and non-metabolic disorders in the offspring’s childhood and adulthood. The risk of obesity in the offspring can be determined by the interplay between maternal nutrition and lifestyle, intrauterine environment, epigenetic modifications, and early postnatal factors. Several studies have indicated that the fetal bowel begins to colonize before birth and that, during birth and nursing, the gut microbiota continues to change. The mother’s gut microbiota is primarily transferred to the fetus through maternal nutrition and the environment. In this way, it is able to impact the establishment of the early fetal and neonatal microbiome, resulting in epigenetic signatures that can possibly predispose the offspring to the development of obesity in later life. However, antioxidants and exercise in the mother have been shown to improve the offspring’s metabolism, with improvements in leptin, triglycerides, adiponectin, and insulin resistance, as well as in the fetal birth weight through epigenetic mechanisms. Therefore, in this extensive literature review, we aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal diet, epigenetics, and gut microbiota in order to expand on current knowledge and identify novel potential preventative strategies for lowering the risk of obesity in children and adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Medicine)
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17 pages, 1639 KiB  
Article
Terpenoid Backbone Biosynthesis among Pig Hippocampal Pathways Impacted by Stressors
by Haley E. Rymut, Laurie A. Rund, Bruce R. Southey, Rodney W. Johnson and Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas
Genes 2022, 13(5), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13050814 - 2 May 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3096
Abstract
Neurogenomic changes induced by maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation and the social stress of weaning can alter brain plasticity in the hippocampus of offspring. The present study furthers the understanding of how these stressors impact hippocampus gene networks. The hippocampus transcriptome was [...] Read more.
Neurogenomic changes induced by maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation and the social stress of weaning can alter brain plasticity in the hippocampus of offspring. The present study furthers the understanding of how these stressors impact hippocampus gene networks. The hippocampus transcriptome was profiled in pigs that were either exposed to MIA or not and were weaned or nursed. Overall, 1576 genes were differentially expressed (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.05 and |log2 (fold change between pig groups)| > 1.2) in response to the main and interacting effects of MIA, weaning, and sex. Functional analysis identified 17 enriched immunological and neurological pathways in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. The enrichment of the terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway was characterized by genes under-expressed in MIA relative to non-MIA exposed, males relative to females, and weaned relative to nursed pigs. On the other hand, the enrichment of drug addiction pathways was characterized by gene over-expression in MIA relative to non-exposed pigs. Our results indicate that weaning and sex can modify the effects of MIA on the offspring hippocampus. This knowledge can aid in precise identification of molecular targets to reduce the prolonged effects of pre- and postnatal stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Brain Transcriptomics)
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19 pages, 1086 KiB  
Article
Disruption of Alternative Splicing in the Amygdala of Pigs Exposed to Maternal Immune Activation
by Bruce R. Southey, Marissa R. Keever-Keigher, Haley E. Rymut, Laurie A. Rund, Rodney W. Johnson and Sandra L. Rodriguez-Zas
Immuno 2021, 1(4), 499-517; https://doi.org/10.3390/immuno1040035 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3951
Abstract
The inflammatory response of gestating females to infection or stress can disrupt gene expression in the offspring’s amygdala, resulting in lasting neurodevelopmental, physiological, and behavioral disorders. The effects of maternal immune activation (MIA) can be impacted by the offspring’s sex and exposure to [...] Read more.
The inflammatory response of gestating females to infection or stress can disrupt gene expression in the offspring’s amygdala, resulting in lasting neurodevelopmental, physiological, and behavioral disorders. The effects of maternal immune activation (MIA) can be impacted by the offspring’s sex and exposure to additional stressors later in life. The objectives of this study were to investigate the disruption of alternative splicing patterns associated with MIA in the offspring’s amygdala and characterize this disruption in the context of the second stress of weaning and sex. Differential alternative splicing was tested on the RNA-seq profiles of a pig model of viral-induced MIA. Compared to controls, MIA was associated with the differential alternative splicing (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.1) of 292 and 240 genes in weaned females and males, respectively, whereas 132 and 176 genes were differentially spliced in control nursed female and male, respectively. The majority of the differentially spliced (FDR-adjusted p-value < 0.001) genes (e.g., SHANK1, ZNF672, KCNA6) and many associated enriched pathways (e.g., Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cGMP-PKG signaling) have been reported in MIA-related disorders including autism and schizophrenia in humans. Differential alternative splicing associated with MIA was detected in the gene MAG across all sex-stress groups except for unstressed males and SLC2A11 across all groups except unstressed females. Precise understanding of the effect of MIA across second stressors and sexes necessitates the consideration of splicing isoform profiles. Full article
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25 pages, 2952 KiB  
Review
Allonursing in Wild and Farm Animals: Biological and Physiological Foundations and Explanatory Hypotheses
by Daniel Mota-Rojas, Míriam Marcet-Rius, Aline Freitas-de-Melo, Ramon Muns, Patricia Mora-Medina, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva and Agustín Orihuela
Animals 2021, 11(11), 3092; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113092 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5990
Abstract
The dams of gregarious animals must develop a close bond with their newborns to provide them with maternal care, including protection against predators, immunological transference, and nutrition. Even though lactation demands high energy expenditures, behaviors known as allonursing (the nursing of non-descendant infants) [...] Read more.
The dams of gregarious animals must develop a close bond with their newborns to provide them with maternal care, including protection against predators, immunological transference, and nutrition. Even though lactation demands high energy expenditures, behaviors known as allonursing (the nursing of non-descendant infants) and allosuckling (suckling from any female other than the mother) have been reported in various species of wild or domestic, and terrestrial or aquatic animals. These behaviors seem to be elements of a multifactorial strategy, since reports suggest that they depend on the following: species, living conditions, social stability, and kinship relations, among other group factors. Despite their potential benefits, allonursing and allosuckling can place the health and welfare of both non-filial dams and alien offspring at risk, as it augments the probability of pathogen transmission. This review aims to analyze the biological and physiological foundations and bioenergetic costs of these behaviors, analyzing the individual and collective advantages and disadvantages for the dams’ own offspring(s) and alien neonate(s). We also include information on the animal species in which these behaviors occur and their implications on animal welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Perinatology: Behavior and Health of the Dam and Her Offspring)
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19 pages, 4011 KiB  
Article
Effect of Infant Presence on Social Networks of Sterilized and Intact Wild Female Balinese Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)
by Gwennan Giraud, Sebastian Sosa, Alain Hambuckers, Stefan Deleuze, I Nengah Wandia, Marie-Claude Huynen, Pascal Poncin and Fany Brotcorne
Animals 2021, 11(9), 2538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092538 - 29 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4720
Abstract
Contraception is increasingly used to control wild animal populations. However, as reproductive condition influences social interactions in primates, the absence of new offspring could influence the females’ social integration. We studied two groups of wild macaques (Macaca fascicularis) including females recently [...] Read more.
Contraception is increasingly used to control wild animal populations. However, as reproductive condition influences social interactions in primates, the absence of new offspring could influence the females’ social integration. We studied two groups of wild macaques (Macaca fascicularis) including females recently sterilized in the Ubud Monkey Forest, Indonesia. We used social network analysis to examine female grooming and proximity networks and investigated the role of infant presence on social centrality and group connectivity, while controlling for the fertility status (sterilized N = 14, intact N = 34). We compared the ego networks of females experiencing different nursing conditions (young infant (YI) vs. old infant (OI) vs. non-nursing (NN) females). YI females were less central in the grooming network than other females while being more central in proximity networks, suggesting they could keep proximity within the group to protect their infant from hazards, while decreasing direct grooming interactions, involving potential risks such as kidnapping. The centrality of sterilized and intact females was similar, except for the proximity network where sterilized females had more partners and a better group connectivity. These results confirm the influence of nursing condition in female macaque social networks and did not show any negative short-term effects of sterilization on social integration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Social Network Analysis to Evaluate Animal Welfare)
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26 pages, 5518 KiB  
Article
Transfer of Anti-Rotavirus Antibodies during Pregnancy and in Milk Following Maternal Vaccination with a Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Amplicon Vector
by Anita F. Meier, Mark Suter, Elisabeth M. Schraner, Bruno M. Humbel, Kurt Tobler, Mathias Ackermann and Andrea S. Laimbacher
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(2), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18020431 - 16 Feb 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5979
Abstract
Rotaviruses (RVs) are important enteric pathogens of newborn humans and animals, causing diarrhea and in rare cases death, especially in very young individuals. Rotavirus vaccines presently used are modified live vaccines that lack complete biological safety. Previous work from our laboratory suggested that [...] Read more.
Rotaviruses (RVs) are important enteric pathogens of newborn humans and animals, causing diarrhea and in rare cases death, especially in very young individuals. Rotavirus vaccines presently used are modified live vaccines that lack complete biological safety. Previous work from our laboratory suggested that vaccines based on in situ produced, non-infectious rotavirus-like particles (RVLPs) are efficient while being entirely safe. However, using either vaccine, active mucosal immunization cannot induce protective immunity in newborns due to their immature immune system. We therefore hypothesized that offspring from vaccinated dams are passively immunized either by transfer of maternal antibodies during pregnancy or by taking up antibodies from milk. Using a codon optimized polycistronic gene expression cassette packaged into herpesvirus particles, the simultaneous expression of the RV capsid genes led to the intracellular formation of RVLPs in various cell lines. Vaccinated dams developed a strong RV specific IgG antibody response determined in sera and milk of both mother and pups. Moreover, sera of naïve pups nursed by vaccinated dams also had RV specific antibodies suggesting a lactogenic transfer of antibodies. Although full protection of pups was not achieved in this mouse model, our observations are important for the development of improved vaccines against RV in humans as well as in various animal species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reverse Vaccinology)
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13 pages, 471 KiB  
Article
Lactation Affects Isolated Mitochondria and Its Fatty Acid Composition but Has No Effect on Tissue Protein Oxidation, Lipid Peroxidation or DNA-Damage in Laboratory Mice
by Teresa G. Valencak, Johannes Raith, Katrin Staniek, Lars Gille and Alois Strasser
Antioxidants 2016, 5(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox5010002 - 11 Jan 2016
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6298
Abstract
Linking peak energy metabolism to lifespan and aging remains a major question especially when focusing on lactation in females. We studied, if and how lactation affects in vitro mitochondrial oxygen consumption and mitochondrial fatty acid composition. In addition, we assessed DNA damage, lipid [...] Read more.
Linking peak energy metabolism to lifespan and aging remains a major question especially when focusing on lactation in females. We studied, if and how lactation affects in vitro mitochondrial oxygen consumption and mitochondrial fatty acid composition. In addition, we assessed DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls to extrapolate on oxidative stress in mothers. As model system we used C57BL/6NCrl mice and exposed lactating females to two ambient temperatures (15 °C and 22 °C) while they nursed their offspring until weaning. We found that state II and state IV respiration rates of liver mitochondria were significantly higher in the lactating animals than in non-lactating mice. Fatty acid composition of isolated liver and heart mitochondria differed between lactating and non-lactating mice with higher n-6, and lower n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the lactating females. Surprisingly, lactation did not affect protein carbonyls, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, nor did moderate cold exposure of 15 °C. We conclude that lactation increases rates of mitochondrial uncoupling and alters mitochondrial fatty acid composition thus supporting the “uncoupling to survive” hypothesis. Regarding oxidative stress, we found no impact of lactation and lower ambient temperature and contribute to growing evidence that there is no linear relationship between oxidative damage and lactation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oxidative Stress and Aging: Past, Present and Future Concepts)
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19 pages, 751 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Fecundity and Germ Line Transmission in Two Transgenic Pig Lines Produced by Sleeping Beauty Transposition
by Wiebke Garrels, Stephanie Holler, Nicole Cleve, Heiner Niemann, Zoltan Ivics and Wilfried A. Kues
Genes 2012, 3(4), 615-633; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes3040615 - 12 Oct 2012
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 13357
Abstract
Recently, we described a simplified injection method for producing transgenic pigs using a non-autonomous Sleeping Beauty transposon system. The founder animals showed ubiquitous expression of the Venus fluorophore in almost all cell types. To assess, whether expression of the reporter fluorophore affects animal [...] Read more.
Recently, we described a simplified injection method for producing transgenic pigs using a non-autonomous Sleeping Beauty transposon system. The founder animals showed ubiquitous expression of the Venus fluorophore in almost all cell types. To assess, whether expression of the reporter fluorophore affects animal welfare or fecundity, we analyzed reproductive parameters of two founder boars, germ line transmission, and organ and cell specific transgene expression in animals of the F1 and F2 generation. Molecular analysis of ejaculated sperm cells suggested three monomeric integrations of the Venus transposon in both founders. To test germ line transmission of the three monomeric transposon integrations, wild-type sows were artificially inseminated. The offspring were nursed to sexual maturity and hemizygous lines were established. A clear segregation of the monomeric transposons following the Mendelian rules was observed in the F1 and F2 offspring. Apparently, almost all somatic cells, as well as oocytes and spermatozoa, expressed the Venus fluorophore at cell-type specific levels. No detrimental effects of Venus expression on animal health or fecundity were found. Importantly, all hemizygous lines expressed the fluorophore in comparable levels, and no case of transgene silencing or variegated expression was found after germ line transmission, suggesting that the insertions occurred at transcriptionally permissive loci. The results show that Sleeping Beauty transposase-catalyzed transposition is a promising approach for stable genetic modification of the pig genome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transgenic Technology: Benefits or Dangers?)
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