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Mouse plasma progesterone levels are affected by different dietary ω6/ω3 ratios
L L Oliva1, M E Santillán1, L C Ryan2
1Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
Hormone and Metabolic Research = Hormon- Und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones Et Metabolisme
|December 21, 2013
Summary
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio negatively impact female mouse reproductive performance. Specific diets altered progesterone levels, estrous cycles, and oocyte quality, highlighting nutritional influences on fertility.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Nutritional Science
- Animal Science
Background:
- Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly the omega-6/omega-3 ratio, are crucial for physiological functions.
- Imbalances in dietary PUFAs can negatively affect reproductive health and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic diets enriched with soybean or sunflower oils, varying in their omega-6/omega-3 ratios, on the reproductive parameters of adult female mice.
- To assess how different dietary fatty acid profiles influence key reproductive indicators.
Main Methods:
- Adult female mice were fed for 90 days on a commercial diet (CD) or diets enriched with 5% or 10% soybean oil (SOD5, SOD10) or sunflower oil (SFOD5, SFOD10).
- Evaluated parameters included body weight, food intake, estrous cycle, plasma progesterone concentration, ovulation rate, and oocyte quality.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher plasma progesterone concentrations were observed in the SFOD10 group compared to CD and SOD5 groups.
- Dietary interventions altered estrous cycle phases, with shorter metestrous and luteal phases in SOD groups and longer phases in SFOD groups.
- A trend towards a reduced number of recruited oocytes was noted in SFOD groups, while SOD diets showed a higher percentage of cleaved oocytes.
Conclusions:
- A 3-month dietary supply of elevated linoleic acid (LA) omega-6 to alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) omega-3 ratio impacts female mouse reproductive physiology.
- These effects manifest as modifications in progesterone production, ovulation rate, and oocyte quality.
- Findings emphasize the importance of dietary fatty acid balance for optimizing reproductive capability in mammals.
