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Developmental Biology

Key References

1. Finch, A.M., Yang, L.Y., Nwagwu, M.O., Page, K.R., McArdle, H.J. and Ashworth, C.J. (2004) Placental transport of leucine in a porcine model of low birthweight. Reproduction 128: 229-235.

2. Ashworth, C.J., McEvoy, T.G., Rooke, J.A. and Robinson, J.J. (2005) Nutritional Programming of Physiological Systems throughout Gestation. Trends in Developmental Biology. 1: 117-129.

3. Hunter, M.G., Brankin, V., Quinn, R.L., Ferguson, E.M., Edwards, S.A. and Ashworth, C.J. (2005) Oocyte – somatic cell – endocrine interactions in pigs. Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 29(2) 371-384.

4. McNeil, C.J., Finch, A.M., Page, K.R, Clarke, S.D., Ashworth, C.J. and McArdle, H.J. (2005) The effect of fetal pig size and stage of gestation on tissue fatty acid metabolism and profile. Reproduction. 129: 757-763.

5. Rooke, J.A., Ewen, M., McEvoy, T.G., Entrican, G.J. and Ashworth C.J. (2005) Effect of inclusion of serum and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on secretion of interferon-tau during in vitro culture of ovine embryos. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 17(5) 513-521.

6. Robinson, J.J., Ashworth, C.J., Rooke, J.A., Mitchell, L.M. and McEvoy, T.G. (2006) Nutrition and Fertility in Ruminant Livestock. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 126: 259-276.

7. Jones, H.N., Ashworth, C.J., Page, K.R. and McArdle, H.J. (2006) Expression and adaptive regulation of amino acid transport system A in a placental cell line under amino acid restriction. Reproduction. 131: 951-960.

8. Jones, H.N., Ashworth, C.J., Page, K.R. and McArdle, H.J. (2006) Cortisol stimulates System A amino acid transport and SNAT2 expression in a human placental cell line (BeWo). Am J Physiol. 291: E596-E603.

9. Ferguson, E.M., Slevin, J., Edwards, S.A., Hunter, M.G. and Ashworth, C.J. (2006) Effect of alterations in the quantity and composition of the pre-mating diet on embryo survival and fetal growth in the pig. Animal Reproduction Science 96: 89-103.

10. Powell, K., Rooke, J.A., McEvoy, T.G., Ashworth, C.J., Robinson, J.J., Wilmut, I., Young, L.E. and Sinclair, K.D. (2006) Zygote donor nitrogen metabolism and in vitro embryo culture perturbs in utero development and IGF2R expression in ovine fetal tissues. Theriogenology 66: 1901-1912.

11. Tilley, R.E., McNeil, C.J., Ashworth, C.J., Page, K.R. and McArdle, H.J. (2007) Altered muscle development and expression of the insulin-like growth factor system in growth retarded fetal pigs. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 32: 167-177.

12. Ferguson, E.M., Slevin, J., Hunter, M.G., Edwards, S.A. and Ashworth, C.J. (2007) Beneficial effects of a high fibre diet on oocyte maturity and embryo survival in gilts. Reproduction. 133: 433-439.

13. McNeil, C.J., Nwagwu, M.O., Finch, A.M., Page, K.R., Thain, A., McArdle, H.J. and Ashworth, C.J. (2007) Glucocorticoid exposure and tissue gene expression of 11β HSD-1, 11β HSD-2 and glucocorticoid receptor in a porcine model of differential fetal growth. Reproduction. 133: 653-661.

14. Rooke, J.A., McEvoy, T.G., Ashworth, C.J., Robinson, J.J., Wilmut, I., Young, L.E. and Sinclair, K.D. (2007) Ovine fetal development is more sensitive to perturbation by the presence of serum in embryo culture before than after compaction. Theriogenology 67: 639-647.

15. Mitchell, L.M., Robinson, J.J., Watt, R.G., McEvoy, T.G., Ashworth, C.J., Rooke, J.A. and Dwyer, C.M. (2007) Effects of cobalt/vitamin B12 status in ewes on ovum development and lamb viability at birth. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 19: 553-562.

16. Antipatis, C., Finch, A.M. and Ashworth, C.J. (2008) Effect of controlled alterations in maternal dietary retinol on pregnancy outcome and within-litter uniformity in piglet birth weight. Livestock Science. 118: 247-254.

17. Rooke, J.A., Dwyer, C.M. and Ashworth, C.J. (2008) The potential for improving physiological, behavioural and immunological responses in the neonatal lamb by trace element and vitamin supplementation of the ewe. Animal 2: 514-524.

18. Ashworth, C.J., Dwyer, C.M., McEvoy, T.G., Rooke, J.A. and Robinson, J.J. (2009) The impact of in utero nutritional programming on small ruminant performances. In: T.G. Papachristou, Z.M. Parissi, H. Ben Salem and P. Morand-Fehr (Editors), Nutritional and Foraging Ecology of Sheep and Goats. 12th Seminar of the FAO-CIHEAM Sub-Network on Sheep and Goat Nutrition, Thessaloniki, Greece, October 11-13, 2007. Options Méditerranéennes (Series A: Mediterranean seminars), Number 85 pp337-349. 

19. Kapell, D.N.R.G., Ashworth C. J., Walling, G., Lawrence A. B., Edwards, S. A. and Roehe, R. (2009) Estimation of genetic associations between piglet survival and performance traits for sire and dam lines with common ancestry. Animal. 3:10 1354-1362.

20. Rooke, J.A., Matheson, S., Ison, S., Jack, M., Ashworth, C.J. and Dwyer, C.M. (2009) The effect on lamb vigour of adding supplementary vitamin E to ewe diets in late pregnancy. Animal. 3:11 1555-1561.

21. Ashworth, C.J., Toma, L.M. and Hunter, M.G. (2009) Nutritional effects on oocyte and embryo development in mammals: implications for reproductive efficiency and environmental sustainability. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 364: 3351-3361.

22. Kapell, D.N.R.G., Ashworth, C.J., Knap, P.W. and Roehe, R. (2011) Genetic parameters for piglet survival, litter size and birth weight or its variation within litter in sire and dam lines using baysian analysis. Livestock Science 135: 215-224.

23. Rooke, J.A., Houdijk, J.G.M., McIlvanney, K., Ashworth, C.J. and Dwyer, C.M. (2010) Differential effects of maternal undernutrition between days one and ninety of pregnancy on ewe and lamb performance and lamb parasitism in hill or lowland breeds. Journal of Animal Science 88: 3833-3842.

24. Hickman, C.F., Ainslie, A., Ealy, A.D., Ashworth, C.J. and Rooke, J.A. (2011) Effect of ovine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor on bovine in vitro embryo development and blastocyst interferon tau secretion. Reproduction in Domestic Animals 46: 608-615

25. Ashworth, C. J., Hogg, C. O.,  Hoeks, C. W., Donald, R. D., Duncan, W. C., Lawrence, A. B., Rutherford, K. M. (2011). Pre-natal social stress and post-natal pain affect the developing pig reproductive axis. Reproduction 142: 907-914

26. Ashworth, C. J., Dwyer, C. M., McIlvaney, K., Werkman, M., Rooke, J. A. (2011). Breed differences in fetal and placental development and feto-maternal amino acid status following nutrient restriction during early and mid pregnancy in Scottish Blackface and Suffolk sheep. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 23(8): 1024-1033.

27. Rooke, J. A., Watt, R. G., Ashworth, C. J., McEvoy, T. G. (2012). Inclusion of bovine lipoproteins and the vitamin E analogue, Trolox, during in vitro culture of bovine embryos changes both embryo and fetal development. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 24(2): 309-316.

28. Banda, L. J., Kamwanja, L. A., Chagunda, M. G., Ashworth, C. J., Roberts, D. J.(2012). Status of dairy cow management and fertility in smallholder farms in Malawi. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44 (4): 715-727