title: Effects of dietary omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid ratios on reproduction in the young breeder rooster.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are necessary for the body's metabolism, growth and development. Although PUFAs play an important role in the regulation of reproduction, their role in testis development in the rooster is unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of omega-3/omega-6 (n-3/n-6, PUFAs) ratios on reproductive performance in young breeder roosters. Plasma levels of reproductive hormones, testis development, and reproductive hormone receptor and StAR mRNA expression were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although PUFAs (n-3/n-6: 1/4.15) had no significant effect on the testis index (P > 0.05), the spermatogonial development and germ cell layers were increased. Moreover, serum levels of hormones (GnRH, FSH, LH and T) on day 35 were also significantly increased by PUFAs (n-3/n-6: 1/4.15). To investigate whether PUFAs regulate the expression of hormone receptors and StAR, real time-PCR was used to measure GnRHR, FSHR, LHR and StAR mRNA levels. PUFAs significantly increased the mRNA levels of all of these genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that PUFAs enhance the reproductive performance of young roosters by increasing hormone secretion and function, the latter by up-regulating receptor expression. These findings provide a sound basis for a balanced n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio being beneficial to young rooster reproduction.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, Peoples' Republic of China. lpsfengyunn@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, Peoples' Republic of China. 1025852206a@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, Peoples' Republic of China. 1247908827a@qq.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, Peoples' Republic of China. 1007983720a@qq.com.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics in Ningxia, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia, 750004, Peoples' Republic of China. alnord820119@163.com.
authors.forename: Yanzhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, Peoples' Republic of China. 609182264@qq.com.
authors.forename: Shuluan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, Peoples' Republic of China. zhch8012@163.com.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000032:analysis; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D013024:Soybean Oil; D008043:Linseed Oil; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone