Abstract

Dietary fat supplementation can improve oocyte quality in ruminants. The influence of the type of dietary fat on the number and quality of oocytes collected by ovum pick-up and on the production of embryos in vitro was investigated in Holstein heifers. Heifers were given hay plus one of two dietary supplements for 42 days. The supplements were linseed (L, rich in linolenic acid, C18:3n-3, n = 9) or soya bean (S, rich in linoleic acid, C18:2n-6, n = 9). Oocytes were collected by ovum pick-up (OPU) for 6 wks (2 sessions/wk) and morphologic quality assessed. Half the oocytes were frozen and the other half was used to produce embryos. Blood samples were analyzed for: insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, B-hydroxy butyrate and urea and the proportions of fatty acids. Neither growth rate nor plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations were affected by dietary supplement. However, L significantly increased the proportion of plasma C18:3n-3 while S significantly increased the proportion of C18:2n-6(P < 0.001). Neither oocyte characteristics (number, their quality and number fertilized and cleaved per heifer per session) nor embryo characteristics (number and quality per heifer per session) and embryo development stages were affected by dietary treatment. Real-time RT-PCR was performed on immature and mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC). Prostaglandin E synthase-1 expression increased in L compared to S heifers. In conclusion, the type of fatty acid did not modify the numbers of oocytes and embryos produced by OPU-IVF and their quality in dairy heifers. Upregulation of prostaglandin E synthase-1 may ensure sufficient POE, production for oocyte maturation even when its precursor is low. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

n-6/n-3 fatty acids; Oocyte; Embryo production; Dairy heifer

Published in

Theriogenology
2012, Volume: 78, number: 3, pages: 632-645

SLU Authors

• Humblot, Patrice

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • National Union of Cooperatives for Animal Insemination (UNCEIA)

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.03.009

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/42273