Impact of Heat Stress and Nutritional Stress on Early Embryo Development

Abstract

The nutritional, physiological, and reproductive function has detrimental effects on heat stress, which is found in many species of mammals. High ambient temperature in mammals cause a decrease in the length and intensity of estrus by disturbing ovarian function as well as decreasing pregnancy rate after artificial insemination. The effects of nutritional stress on developing oocytes in the ovarian follicle and in the reproductive tract on early embryos are because of the environment where a breeding female lives before conception and at the early stages of pregnancy. Maturity of oocyte, blastocyst yield, prenatal survival, and the number of offspring born alive are affected by change in consumption and quantity of the food taken during the pre-mating period. To improve reproductive efficiency and offspring quality, it is necessary to detect and evaluate the deteriorating effects of heat stress on reproductive organs and cells and to plan nutrition related strategies.