Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39509243›Full record

ArticleBiology of reproduction2026

Maternal undernutrition in the first eighty days of gestation negatively programs ovarian development in dairy calves†.

Adele Frau, David Edache, Sebastiano Sale, Antonio Gallo, Vincenzo Miragliotta, Giulia Lazzarini, Andrea Corda, Francesca Corda, Olimpia Barbato, Sara Succu and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biology of reproduction, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Adele FrauDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
David EdacheDepartment of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Sebastiano SaleVeterinary practitioner, Dorgali (NU), Italy.
Antonio GalloDepartment of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.
Vincenzo MiragliottaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Giulia LazzariniDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Andrea CordaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Francesca CordaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Olimpia BarbatoDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Sara SuccuDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Daniela BebbereDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Federica FranciosiDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
Alberto S AtzoriDepartment of Agriculture, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Francesca MossaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We hypothesized that in dairy cattle maternal energy restriction applied during two gestational windows (up to day 80 or 120 of gestation) impairs ovarian and cardiovascular development in juvenile female offspring. We also investigated the role of maternal leptin and testosterone in developmental programming in calves. Holstein-Friesian heifers were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups; starting 10 days before artificial insemination, they were individually fed at (i) 0.6 of their maintenance energy requirements (M) up to day 80 (Nutrient Restricted, NR80) or (ii) day 120 of gestation (NR120); (iii) 1.8 M until day 120 of pregnancy (Control). Plasma leptin concentrations increased transiently in nutritionally restricted heifers pregnant with a single female calf, but maternal testosterone concentrations were not influenced by diet. Calves had similar body growth, but daughters of NR80 and NR120 had impaired ovarian development, as assessed by reduced gonadal weight, fewer surface antral and primary follicles, and recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes, as well as lower circulating anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations. Cardiovascular morphology and function in the offspring were not influenced by maternal diet, as determined by peripheral arterial blood pressure, echocardiography, post-mortem heart weight, and aortic circumference. Regardless of its duration (until day 80 or 120 of gestation), nutritional restriction resulted in a similar alteration of ovarian development in juvenile progeny, but cardiovascular development was unaltered. Evidence suggests that the window of development that encompasses the peri-ovulatory period to the first 2.6 months of gestation is critical in ovarian programming and that maternal leptin may be involved.

Indexed as

MalnutritionMaternal Nutritional Physiological PhenomenaOvaryPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsAnimalsCattleDevelopmental Origins of Health and DiseaseFemaleLeptinPregnancyTestosteroneLeptinTestosteroneanti-Müllerian hormonearterial blood pressureDevelopmental Origins of Health and Diseaseheartleptinovarian reservepregnancyruminantstestosteroneundernutrition

Identifiers

PMID39509243
PMCPMC13482285

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