Abstract：Abstract Nicotinamide could regulate lipid metabolism. However, the regulatory effects of maternal nicotinamide supplementation on lipid metabolism of offspring are still unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the effects and mechanism of nicotinamide supplementation in perinatal dairy goat (Capra hircus) on lipid metabolism of the offspring. Fifteen perinatal dairy goats (prenatal 21 d) were paired and assigned randomly within block to 3 groups. In group C (control group), ewes were fed with basal diets without nicotinamide supplementation. In group P (postpartum group), ewes were fed with basal diets with nicotinamide supplementation from postpartum 1 to 28 days. In group EP (prenatal group), ewes were fed with nicotinamide supplementation from prenatal 21 d to postpartum 28 d. The lambs from each treatment were named group LC, group LP and group LEP respectively. Fasting blood from lambs was obtained from jugular vein 3 h after morning feeding on 14th and 28th d, to measure the concentration of triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (TC) and the activity of lipase. Lambs were slaughtered at the age of 28 d, and abdominal adipose tissues were collected to measure the concentration of TG, FFA, TC and the gene expression of key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. Results at 14-day age showed that the concentration of TG, FFA and TC in plasma were not significantly (P＞0.05) different among groups. Results at 28-day age showed that the concentration of TG in plasma in group LEP was extremely significantly (P＜0.01) increased compared with group LC and group LP, and the activity of lipase in group LP and group LEP were extremely significantly (P＜0.01) higher than that of group LC. A significant (P＜0.05) increase of FFA in abdominal adipose tissue occurred in group LEP compared with group LC. The concentration of TG in abdominal adipose tissue in group LEP and group LP were extremely significantly (P＜0.01) increased compared with group LC, and the concentration of TG in abdominal adipose tissue in group LP was significantly (P＜0.01) higher than that of group LEP. The mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator α (PGC1α), sterol regulating element binding protein-1 (SREBP1), fatty acid synthetase (FAS) in abdominal adipose tissue increased (P＜0.05) in group LEP compared with group LC and group LP. The mRNA expression of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase mitochondrial (GPAM), 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases 6 (AGPAT6) were extremely significantly (P＜0.01) increased in group LEP. Besides that, the mRNA expression of AGPAT6 gene increased (P＜0.01) in group LP compared with group LC. It is concluded that nicotinamide supplementation in perinatal dairy goat facilitated fat deposition in abdominal adipose tissue by improving the metabolism of lipogenesis of lambs. The results of this study provided a clue to explore the effects of maternal nicotinamide supplementation on the growth and development of lambs.
