title: Embryo yield and quality following dietary supplementation of beef heifers with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation on embryo yield and quality in heifers. Animals were individually offered barley straw and concentrate diets supplemented with either palmitic acid (C16:0; CON) or a partially rumen protected n-3 PUFA-enriched supplement. Following oestrous cycle synchronisation, superovulation was induced using FSH. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of fatty acids, metabolites, insulin and IGF-1. On day 7 post-insemination the number of ovulations was estimated and embryos recovered non-surgically and quality graded. At embryo recovery 50 ml of the uterine flushing was collected from each horn for fatty acid analysis. Grade 1 embryos were isolated, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 degrees C. mRNA expression for six genes, LIF, BAX, Cx43 and E-CAD associated with embryo development, and PPAR-alpha and -delta, associated with lipid metabolism was analysed. The n-3 PUFA supplementation increased plasma n-3 PUFA concentration (P<0.05) and reduced n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio (P<0.05). Uterine concentration of the n-3 PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid was increased (P<0.05) and the concentration of arachidonic acid decreased (P<0.05) following n-3 PUFA supplementation. While CON increased triglyceride concentrations, diet did not affect the other plasma metabolites, insulin or IGF-1 (P>0.05). Similarly, there was no effect of diet on superovulation rate, embryo recovery rate, embryo quality (P>0.05) or mRNA expression of the genes examined (P>0.05).
authors.affiliation: Animal Production Research Centre, Teagasc, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sreenan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lonergan
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004526:Efficiency / Q000187:drug effects*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004973:Estrus Synchronization / Q000097:blood / Q000379:methods; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D011786:Quality Control; D013480:Superovulation / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3