Impact of contrasting fish oil concentrations in the diet on ovine embryo development <i>in vivo</i> and of corresponding diet-specific derivative sera during <i>in vitro</i> culture

Abstract

In the first of two experiments, numbers of ovulations and day 5 embryo yields were unaffected by fish oil (0, 3 or 6% w/w) in ewe diets; oestradiol concentrations and numbers of large ovarian follicles were increased. Fish oil tended to suppress embryo development and limit blastocyst diameter and cell number but not protein synthesis. In the second experiment IVF-derived embryos were cultured in medium supplemented with foetal calf serum (FCS) or, as in vitro equivalents to Experiment 1, serum from ewes fed rations supplemented with 0 (C), 3 (3F) or 6 (6F)% fish oil. Cleavage rates were not affected by serum source. More Grade 1 to 1.5 blastocysts were produced when using 3F serum (32% of blastocysts) than with C (27%; ns) or 6F (16%; P<0.05) or FCS (10%; P<0.005). It is suggested that at less than 3% inclusion in the diet of ewes, there may be beneficial effects of fish oil fatty acids on embryo production in vivo and of the corresponding ewe serum during in vitro culture. Higher concentrations are counter-productive.

Effect of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and post-insemination plane of nutrition on systemic concentrations of metabolic analytes, progesterone, hepatic gene expression and embryo development and survival in beef heifers

“…Additionally, sheep studies by McEvoy et al [71] reported significant increases in the number and diameter of good quality blastocysts, together with total cell counts in embryos cultured with serum from ewes receiving an intermediate (3% w/w) inclusion rate of longchain PUFA fish oil (EPA and DHA). The same authors reported compromised embryo development following supplementation with dietary fish oil (3 or 6% w/w) compared with the non-supplemented control diet [71]. Similarly, the quality of bovine embryos was negatively affected by feeding donor lactating dairy cows with a rich source of n-3 fatty acids in the form of whole flaxseed compared with calcium salts of palm oil [67].…”

Ovulatory response and embryo quality in Katahdin ewes supplemented with palm oil

“…However, the differences found in this study for more uniform embryonic development in developmental stages 6 and 7 (blastocyst and expanded blastocyst) in ewes supplemented with 6% PO may be associated with the positive effect of PUFAs (omega 3 and 6) (Akbarinejad et al, 2012) in PO on ovarian and uterine environment, which favours follicular development, fertilization, embryonic development and viability, all of which are consistent with the improvement of oocyte quality as the PUFA levels are increased (Meza-Villalvazo et al, 2014). It is well known that the provision of PUFAs modifies cell processes positively, including biosynthesis of prostaglandins, steroidogenesis, regulation of transcription factor, maternal immune response and remodelling of uterine tissue (Waters et al, 2012), as was observed by several authors using various sources of PUFAs (Webb et al, 2003;Childs et al, 2008;Waleed et al, 2010;McEvoy et al, 2012).…”

Dietary fish oil supplementation improved ovarian function, conceptus growth and certain reproductive variables in Marwari mares

“…While embryo recovery rate was not altered when cows were fed a ruminally protected long chain n-3 from fish oil, the number of degenerated embryos was reduced following dietary inclusion of n-3 PUFA (CHILDS et al, 2008). McEVOY et al (2012) suggested that at less than 3% inclusion in the diet of ewes, there may be beneficial effects of fish oil fatty acids on embryo production in vivo and of the corresponding ewe serum during in vitro culture.…”