Birth weight, growth indices, and seminal parameters in male offspring are resilient features to maternal pre-conceptional dietary manipulation in sheep

Gestational diet manipulation can lead to inadequate fetal nutrient supply resulting in low birth weight, limited postnatal growth, and consequently, reduced reproductive performance in the progeny. However, effects of short-term maternal pre-conceptional dietary manipulation on postnatal growth and reproductive parameters of male offspring in large animals remains unexplored. To determine these consequences, female crossbred (Polypay x Dorset) sheep were allocated to three groups (n = 33/group) of dietary manipulation for 21 days prior to mating under the following conditions: (1) control at 100 % of maintenance energy requirements (40 Kcal of metabolizable energy/kg body weight [BW]), (2) undernutrition (UN) at 50 % of Control intake, and (3) overnutrition (ON) at 200 % of maintenance energy. Singleton ram lambs (UN:9; C:12; ON:6) were monitored from birth until 8 months of age, including birth weight, weekly weights, weight gain, body mass index (BMI), and circulating testosterone. After weaning, monthly scrotal circumference and subcutaneous fat depth were measured. Semen morphology and motility were evaluated at 7 and 8 months of age. Birth weight, weight gain, and BMI at birth and weaning were not significantly different among nutritional treatments. None of the pre-conceptional diets affected body weight change from weaning until 36 weeks of age, BMI, fat depth, or scrotal circumference across the experiment. A sustained rise in plasma testosterone concentrations was detected when ram lambs were, on average, 82 days old and 37 kg. Both testosterone concentrations and scrotal circumference were positively correlated to body weight regardless of treatment group. In addition, seminal parameters did not differ among treatments, but a transient increase in plasma testosterone at 18 weeks of age was observed in ON ram lambs compared to control rams. In conclusion, birth weight, growth indices, and seminal parameters in singleton rams are resilient features in the progeny upon maternal pre-conceptional dietary manipulation in sheep.