Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2003) 6 OC11

SFE2003 Oral Communications Reproduction (8 abstracts)

EFFECT OF DIETARY N-6 POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (PUFAS) ON PROSTAGLANDINS (PG) PRODUCED BY MATERNAL INTERCOTYLEDONARY ENDOMETRIAL (IC) TISSUES IN LATE PREGNANT EWES

Z Cheng , M Elmes , SE Kirkup , DRE Abayasekara & DC Wathes


Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UK.


Parturition in the ewe is initiated by the fetus following the cortisol rise via activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increased intrauterine PG production. Dietary n-6 PUFAs, noteceably linoleic acid (LA) are the precursors for PG synthesis. The maternal intercotyledonary endometrium is the main site of PGF2alpha during labour. This study investigated the effect of dietary n-6 PUFA supplementation on uterine PG production at term. Ewes (n=32) were fed either an LA enriched diet or an isoenergetic control diet from day 100 of pregnancy, injected with 0 or 4 mg/50 kg dexamethasone (DEX) i.m. on day 133 and slaughtered on day 135 for collecting IC tissues. The tissues were cultured in serum free DMEM/F12 medium containing 1.125 g/L bovine serum albumin and ITS for 18 h for examining basal PG production before they were challenged with control medium or oxytocin (OT, 250 nM) for 2 and 22 h. PGF2alpha and PGE2 in the spent medium were quantified using radioimmunoassays. Statistical analysis was carried out using a split ANOVA (Mixed model) built in SAS. DEX induction enhanced basal PGF2alpha and PGE2 production significantly (P<0.05-0.0001) and altered the tissue response to PUFA supplementation. Dietary n-6 PUFA supplementation raised basal PG production significantly in the non-induced group (P<0.05-0.001) but not in the DEX group (P>0.05). OT challenge significantly increased both PGF2alpha and PGE2 generation (P<0.05) and the tissue responsiveness to OT was significantly altered by DEX induction and PUFA supplementation. Following OT challenge PUFA supplementation significantly enhanced PGF2alpha production in both DEX induced and non-induced ewes (P<0.05-0.01). In summary, the study showed that dietary PUFA supplementation and DEX induction altered uterine PG production and response to OT in late pregnant ewes and this may affect both the initiation and progression of parturition.

Volume 6

194th Meeting of the Society for Endocrinology and Society for Endocrinology joint with Diabetes UK Endocrinology and Diabetes Day

Society for Endocrinology 

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