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Impact of periconceptional and gestational vitamin D3 restriction on fetal folliculogenesis and anti-mullerian hormone secretion using sheep as a model

Impact of periconceptional and gestational vitamin D3 restriction on fetal folliculogenesis and anti-mullerian hormone secretion using sheep as a model
Impact of periconceptional and gestational vitamin D3 restriction on fetal folliculogenesis and anti-mullerian hormone secretion using sheep as a model
Ovarian reserve is a reflection of the overall female reproductive potential. Vitamin D status has been suspected to influence fetal development and female fertility. As maternal diet during pregnancy can affect fetal development and future fertility, we hypothesised that periconceptional and gestational Vitamin D restriction could affect folliculogenesis and AMH secretion in the offspring. Nineteen sexually mature Welsh mountain ewes were randomly assigned to Vitamin D3 deficient (VDD, n = 10) and Vitamin D3 control (VDC, n = 9) diets from 17 days (d) before mating, up to 127-130 days of gestation, when fetal ovaries were collected (3 from VDC and 6 from VDD). Serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were lower in VDD compared with VDC (p < 0.05). Relative to total follicle number, the percentage of primordial follicles was higher (p < 0.05), while the percentage of primary follicles was lower (p < 0.05) in VDD group compared with VDC group fetal ovaries. The integrated density value and percentage of affected area in TUNEL staining in VDD group did not vary from VDC group fetal ovaries (p > 0.05). Relative expression of AMH mRNA and AMH protein in VDD fetal ovaries were not statistically different compared with controls (p > 0.05). The relative expression of VDR mRNA were lower in VDD compared with VDC group fetal ovaries (p < 0.05). These data indicate that maternal Vitamin D dietary restriction is associated with ovarian tissue stemness and increased primordial follicle number but does not promote normal follicle recruitment or development in sheep fetal ovaries.
Vitamin D, anti‐Mullerian hormone, apoptosis, fetal ovaries, folliculogenesis, sheep, anti-Mullerian hormone
Mbegbu, E.C.
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Salavati, M.
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Aka, L.O.
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Obidike, I.R.
c72d684c-9f04-4af5-bb79-5dcacd9debee
Tang, J.C.Y.
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Fraser, W.D.
b7c03afc-f1be-4e24-bd68-69e8445719df
Hanson, M.A.
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Green, L.R.
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Fouladi-Nashta, A.A.
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Mbegbu, E.C.
1ab67ccb-e781-4711-8114-cff078d6f66c
Salavati, M.
bac9fec0-eafb-4ac1-a7c7-dc6965a69fb6
Aka, L.O.
5b2c4590-3275-48e4-9928-6b362a79b2c5
Obidike, I.R.
c72d684c-9f04-4af5-bb79-5dcacd9debee
Tang, J.C.Y.
21d84cac-a063-4f19-ba60-a10beb7e6d94
Fraser, W.D.
b7c03afc-f1be-4e24-bd68-69e8445719df
Hanson, M.A.
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Green, L.R.
8a601974-efe5-4916-9268-9e7bc72d89c5
Fouladi-Nashta, A.A.
f3989f01-16e0-4939-828e-137de5df796a

Mbegbu, E.C., Salavati, M., Aka, L.O., Obidike, I.R., Tang, J.C.Y., Fraser, W.D., Hanson, M.A., Green, L.R. and Fouladi-Nashta, A.A. (2024) Impact of periconceptional and gestational vitamin D3 restriction on fetal folliculogenesis and anti-mullerian hormone secretion using sheep as a model. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 59 (9), [e14717]. (doi:10.1111/rda.14717).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Ovarian reserve is a reflection of the overall female reproductive potential. Vitamin D status has been suspected to influence fetal development and female fertility. As maternal diet during pregnancy can affect fetal development and future fertility, we hypothesised that periconceptional and gestational Vitamin D restriction could affect folliculogenesis and AMH secretion in the offspring. Nineteen sexually mature Welsh mountain ewes were randomly assigned to Vitamin D3 deficient (VDD, n = 10) and Vitamin D3 control (VDC, n = 9) diets from 17 days (d) before mating, up to 127-130 days of gestation, when fetal ovaries were collected (3 from VDC and 6 from VDD). Serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were lower in VDD compared with VDC (p < 0.05). Relative to total follicle number, the percentage of primordial follicles was higher (p < 0.05), while the percentage of primary follicles was lower (p < 0.05) in VDD group compared with VDC group fetal ovaries. The integrated density value and percentage of affected area in TUNEL staining in VDD group did not vary from VDC group fetal ovaries (p > 0.05). Relative expression of AMH mRNA and AMH protein in VDD fetal ovaries were not statistically different compared with controls (p > 0.05). The relative expression of VDR mRNA were lower in VDD compared with VDC group fetal ovaries (p < 0.05). These data indicate that maternal Vitamin D dietary restriction is associated with ovarian tissue stemness and increased primordial follicle number but does not promote normal follicle recruitment or development in sheep fetal ovaries.

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Accepted/In Press date: 13 August 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 5 September 2024
Published date: 5 September 2024
Keywords: Vitamin D, anti‐Mullerian hormone, apoptosis, fetal ovaries, folliculogenesis, sheep, anti-Mullerian hormone

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Local EPrints ID: 495831
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/495831
PURE UUID: 26b4671e-25c4-4214-a5be-1dc1a542480c
ORCID for M.A. Hanson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6907-613X
ORCID for L.R. Green: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7423-9696

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Date deposited: 25 Nov 2024 17:41
Last modified: 05 Sep 2025 04:01

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Contributors

Author: E.C. Mbegbu
Author: M. Salavati
Author: L.O. Aka
Author: I.R. Obidike
Author: J.C.Y. Tang
Author: W.D. Fraser
Author: M.A. Hanson ORCID iD
Author: L.R. Green ORCID iD
Author: A.A. Fouladi-Nashta

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