Endocrine Abstracts

Dairy cows normally calve for the first time when not yet fully grown. Subsequent pregnancies occur during lactation. Therefore in primiparous (PP) cows the fetus competes for nutrients with maternal growth, while in multiparous (MP) cows they compete with milk production. Human epidemiological studies demonstrate that low birth weight can predispose offspring to a variety of metabolic diseases in adult life. This study investigated the hypothesis that such competition limits ...

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) act as precursors for prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. PGs both inhibit and stimulate ovarian steroidogenesis. We have therefore examined the hypothesis that high n-3 PUFA diets affect ovarian steroid synthesis through modulating prostaglandin synthesis.Welsh mountain ewes were individually fed a control diet or a diet containing linseed (high in n-3 PUFA) for 6 weeks. To assess the impact of the diet during differe...

Increased dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been reported to be associated with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Increased dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been reported to be associated with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease. We have recently reported that ovarian steroid synthesis in ewes fed a diet high in n-3 PUFAs is significantly compromised1. Hence in this study we have assessed th...

Public health policy in recent years has favoured a reduction in saturated fats in favour of polyunsaturated fats due to the numerous health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Previous studies have demonstrated that PUFAs modulate gonadal steroidogenesis. We have therefore investigated the hypothesis that PUFAs modify steroidogenesis through affecting components of the cholesterol metabolising machinery, including steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and...