BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Comparison of early embryo development in Cheviot and Suffolk breeds of sheep

摘要

Maternal constraint is the major non-genetic factor determining the size of the fetus at term (Gluckman & Hanson 2004). Previous studies in various animal models have reported the effect of maternal size on birth size and postnatal growth, (Allen et al. 2002; Gardner et al. 2007) whereby fetal development and birth weight are reduced in a restricted maternal uterine environment, while enhanced in a luxurious uterine environment.