For humans and other animals, maternal nutrition has a profound effect on the offspring they feed on.
Alana Wolfson ’27 (CAHNR) is studying whether the nutrition of ewe mothers affects not just one generation of lambs, but many generations.
Wolfson, a pre-veterinary student majoring in animal science, is working with Sarah Reid, associate professor of animal science, to study how malnutrition in mother sheep affects the ewe’s lambs and their offspring.
Wolfson compared the effects of under- and over-nutrition on these lambs: the under-nourished group were getting 60% less of the recommended amount of a nutrient, while the over-nourished group were getting 140% of the recommended amount.
“This is really important because I’m trying to look at how their mothers’ and grandmothers’ diets affect their energy metabolism and the mitochondria that they produce,” Wolfson says. “So I’m basically looking at how diet affects extremes at the cellular level.”
Wolfson hopes to isolate mitochondria from the sheep samples by the end of the summer and send them to a lab for DNA methylation analysis.
DNA methylation is the process in which molecules called methyl groups are added to DNA molecules, altering their activity.
“Increased methylation is usually a bad sign,” Wolfson says. “It means your mitochondria aren’t working the way they should. They’re inhibited in some way.”
Previous studies have suggested that fat-restricted and high-fat diets can lead to a decrease in mitochondrial number, impaired function, and changes in structure.
Because mitochondria support so many normal processes in the body, alterations in mitochondrial function can lead to many health problems in animals.
“The impact will be profound,” Wolfson said. “Mitochondria are responsible for energy production, and we need energy to sustain all life processes. We need mitochondria to support us when we breathe, when we grow and develop.”
Wolfson has been working with Reed since her freshman year when she first met him at orientation and was immediately interested in the research Reed was conducting at the University of Connecticut.
“We hit it off immediately,” Wolfson says.
Wolfson became interested in animal health many years ago while working at an animal shelter, where she noticed that an animal’s survival was often determined by its nutrition.
“For some of these animals, nutrition is the determining factor in whether they live or die,” Wolfson said.
“Therefore, this [research] It has to do with animal welfare, which is something I’m really passionate about.”
Wolfson is completing this research as a summer undergraduate research fellow with the American Physiological Society.
Wolfson is one of 12 fellows from across the country. Fellows and professors will meet weekly to discuss their research and give each other feedback. In the spring, the fellows will meet in person to present their research posters.
“I love that it’s a great networking opportunity,” Wolfson said. “It’s awesome to see so many connections being made, even though we’re all meeting online.”
Wolfson has also received an IDEA grant for the fall semester to continue this project, and with this new funding, she will redirect her research from studying mitochondria to analyzing the effects of maternal malnutrition on cell membranes and lipids in sheep.
“It’s really neat to be able to see different sides and dive into it so deeply,” Wolfson said.
This work is related to CAHNR’s strategic vision areas: Improving health and well-being locally, nationally and globally and Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agriculture and food supply.
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