Methionine and guanidinoacetic acid supplementation throughout the periconceptual period of gestation alters metabolite concentrations and fetal development

Authors: HAUXWELL, KATHLYN - North Dakota State University; Cushman, Robert - Bob; CATON, JOEL - North Dakota State University; WARD, ALISON - North Dakota State University; Lindholm-Perry, Amanda; Snider, Alexandria - Alex; Freetly, Harvey; DAHLEN, CARL - North Dakota State University; AMAT, SAMAT - North Dakota State University; Oliver, William; Miles, Jeremy; Crouse, Matthew

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2023
Publication Date: 11/1/2023
Citation: Hauxwell, K.M., Cushman, R.A., Caton, J.S., Ward, A.K., Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Snider, A.P., Freetly, H.C., Dahlen, C.R., Amat, S., Oliver, W.T., Miles, J.R., Crouse, M.S. 2023. Methionine and guanidinoacetic acid supplementation throughout the periconceptual period of gestation alters metabolite concentrations and fetal development. Journal of Animal Science. 101(Supplement 3):329-330. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.395.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad281.395

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent research reported changes in fetal growth due to increased methyl donor availability through periconceptual supplementation of the dam. We hypothesized that maternal supplementation of methionine (MET) or guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) during the periconceptual period will result in a methyl donor surplus or deficiency in maternal serum and ultimately influence fetal body and organ weight at d +63 gestation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate effects of methyl donor surplus or deficiency during the periconceptual period of gestation on metabolite concentrations in the heifer and the effects on early fetal development. Eighty MARC II heifers (n = 20 per treatment, initial BW = 346 ± 8 kg) were stratified by age and weight to one of four treatment groups to receive 100 g of supplement: ground corn carrier as control (CON), MET (10 g/d) in ground corn, GAA (40 g/d) in ground corn, and MET + GAA (10 g/d MET + 40 g/d GAA) in ground corn. Supplementation began 63 d before breeding (d –63) until d 63 of gestation (d +63), and serum samples were collected before feeding on d -63, at breeding, and d +63. Heifers were bred using male sexed semen from the same sire, and 35 heifers were confirmed pregnant (CON, n = 10; MET, n = 8; GAA, n = 7; MET + GAA, n =10) and harvested at d +63 of gestation to collect maternal and fetal samples. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 levels of MET and 2 levels of GAA. Methionine concentrations in maternal serum were greater (P = 0.05) in MET and MET + GAA supplemented heifers at d 0 and d +63 compared with CON and GAA at d -63, d 0, and d +63. There were no differences (P = 0.15) in the concentration of GAA or creatine due to supplementation; however, both were decreased at breeding (P < 0.01) compared to d -63 and d +63. Fetuses from MET supplemented heifers had greater (P = 0.01) brain weight and Longissimus dorsi than dams not receiving MET. We conclude that MET supplementation during the periconceptual period can alter methyl donor availability and increase fetal muscle development.