Dietary omega-3 fatty acids differentially influence ova release and ovarian cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in rats

Cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid gastric administration during the pregestational and gestational periods does not influence the follicular endowment of the progeny

Fetal programming suggests that maternal stimulation and nutrition during the period of fetal development can program the progeny. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an isomer of linoleic acid, has been characterized in several aspects, but few studies have been performed on its involvement in reproduction and fetal programming. The aim of this study was to evaluate the F1, F2 and F3 progeny of female mice supplemented with CLA during the pregestational and gestational periods with respect to biometric and reproductive parameters, as well as ovarian morphophysiology. The F1 progeny of mothers supplemented with CLA exhibited stable weight gain, while the F2 progeny showed no effects (P=0.0187 and P=0.0245, respectively). A reduction in Lee's Index was observed in both generations at the second post-weaning evaluation week in the animals treated with CLA (P=0.0100 and P=0.0078, respectively). The F2 generation showed an increase in the anogenital index in both sexes of the animals treated with CLA (P= 0.0114 and P<0.0001, female and male respectively). CLA administration to mothers did not affect any of the following in their progeny: ovarian follicle mobilization (P>0.05), follicle number (P>0.05) and the integrated density of the lipid content of oocytes included in antral follicles (P>0.05). This study evaluated the use of CLA in mothers and found that it did not affect the progeny regarding murine reproductive performance, suggesting that this supplement can be used safely.

n-3 PUFA Promotes Ferroptosis in PCOS GCs by Inhibiting YAP1 through Activation of the Hippo Pathway

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenemia with multiple suspended sinus follicles, thickened cortical tissue, and excessive proliferation of ovarian granulosa cells that severely affects the fertility and quality of life of women. The addition of n-3 PUFA to the diet may slightly reduce body weight and greatly alleviate disturbed blood hormone levels in PCOS mice. We treated KGN as a cell model for n-3 PUFA addition and showed that n-3 PUFA inhibited the proliferation of GCs and promoted ferroptosis in ovarian granulosa cells. We used CCK-8, fluorescence quantitative transmission electron microscopy experiments and ferroptosis marker gene detection and other methods. Furthermore, n-3 PUFA was found to promote YAP1 exocytosis by activating Hippo and weakening the cross-talk between YAP1 and Nrf2 by activating the Hippo signaling pathway. In this study, we found that n-3 PUFA inhibited the over proliferation of granulosa cells in ovarian follicles by activating Hippo, promoting YAP1 exocytosis, weakening the cross-talk between YAP1 and Nrf2, and ultimately activating the ferroptosis sensitivity of ovarian granulosa cells. We demonstrate that n-3 PUFA can alleviate the hormonal and estrous cycle disorder with PCOS by inhibiting the YAP1-Nrf2 crosstalk that suppresses over proliferating ovarian granulosa cells and promotes iron death in GCs. These findings reveal the molecular mechanisms by which n-3 PUFA attenuates PCOS and identify YAP1-Nrf2 as a potential therapeutic target for regulation granulosa cells in PCOS.

Dietary Fatty Acid Intakes and the Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technique in Infertile Women

Background

The purpose of this study was evaluating the relationship between fatty acid (FA) intakes and the Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) outcomes in infertile women.

Methods

In this descriptive longitudinal study, a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to measure dietary intakes among 217 women with primary infertility seeking ART treatments at Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran. The average number of total and metaphase II (MII) oocytes, the fertilization rate, the ratio of good and bad quality embryo and biochemical and clinical pregnancy were assessed. Analyses were performed using mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, logistic regression.

Results

A total of 140 women were finally included in the study. There was a positive relationship between the average number of total and MII oocytes and the amount of total fatty acids (TFAs), saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acids, linolenic acids, and oleic acids intakes, while eicosapentaenoic acids (EPAs) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHAs) intakes had an inverse relationship. Consuming more amounts of TFAs, SFAs, PUFAs, MUFAs, linoleic acids, and oleic acids was associated with the lower fertilization rate, whereas the consumption of linolenic acids and EPAs increased the fertilization rate. The ratio of good quality embryo was directly affected by the amount of PUFAs intakes. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between the amount of SFAs intakes and the number of pregnant women.

Conclusion

TFAs, SFA, PUFA, and MUFA intakes could have both beneficial and adverse impacts on ART outcomes.

Action mechanisms of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the oocyte maturation and developmental competence: Potential advantages and disadvantages

Infertility is a growing problem worldwide. Currently, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is widely performed to treat infertility. However, a high percentage of IVF cycles fails, due to the poor developmental potential of the retrieved oocyte to generate viable embryos. Fatty acid content of the follicular microenvironment can affect oocyte maturation and the subsequent developmental competence. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids are mainly used by follicle components as primary energy sources whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a wide range of roles. A large body of evidence supports the beneficial effects of n-3 PUFAs in prevention, treatment, and amelioration of some pathophysiological conditions including heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and psychological disorders. Nevertheless, current findings regarding the effects of n-3 PUFAs on reproductive outcomes in general and on oocyte quality more specifically are inconsistent. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of potential molecular mechanisms by which n-3 PUFAs affect oocyte maturation and developmental competence, particularly in the setting of IVF and thereby aims to elucidate the reasons behind current discrepancies around this topic.

Effects of dietary omega-3 PUFAs on growth and development: Somatic, neurobiological and reproductive functions in a murine model

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) are relevant to fetal and infant growth and development. Objective: to assess whether long-term exposure to dietary ω-3 PUFA imbalance alters pre- and/or postnatal pups' development and reproductive function later in life. Mice dams were fed with ω-3 PUFA Control (soybean oil, 7%), Deficient (sunflower oil, 7%) or Excess (blend oil; 4.2% cod-liver+2.8% soybean) diet before conception and throughout gestation-lactation and later on, their pups received the same diet from weaning to adulthood. Offspring somatic, neurobiological and reproductive parameters were evaluated. Excess pups were lighter during the preweaning period and shorter in length from postnatal day (PND) 7 to 49, compared to Control pups (P<.05). On PND14, the percentage of pups with eye opening in Excess group was lower than those from Control and Deficient groups (P<.05). In Excess female offspring, puberty onset (vaginal opening and first estrus) occurred significantly later and the percentage of parthenogenetic oocytes on PND63 was higher than Control and Deficient ones (P<.05). Deficient pups were shorter in length (males: on PND14, 21, 35 and 49; females: on PND14, 21 and 42) compared with Control pups (P<.05). Deficient offspring exhibited higher percentage of bending spermatozoa compared to Control and Excess offspring (P<.05). These results show that either an excessively high or insufficient ω-3 PUFA consumption prior to conception until adulthood seems inadvisable because of the potential risks of short-term adverse effects on growth and development of the progeny or long-lasting effects on their reproductive maturation and function.

Incorporation of dietary n-3 fatty acids into ovarian compartments in dairy cows and the effects on hormonal and behavioral patterns around estrus

The objective of this study was to examine the incorporation of dietary n-3 fatty acids (FAs) into ovarian compartments and the effects on hormonal and behavioral patterns around estrus. Multiparous 256-day pregnant cows were fed either a standard diet both prepartum and postpartum (PP) (control;n=22) or supplemented with extruded flaxseed (E-FLAX) providing C18:3n-3 at 172.2 and 402.5 g/day per cow prepartum and PP respectively (n=22). The estrous cycle was synchronized, and at day 7 of the cycle, the cows were injected with prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) and then subjected to 5 days of intensive examination. Compared with those in the control, in the E-FLAX group, the interval from PGF2αinjection to behavioral estrus peak tended to be longer (3.6 h;P<0.1), that to estradiol (E2) peak was 6.5 h longer (P<0.03), and that to LH peak tended to be longer (5.3 h;P<0.07). The durations of behavioral estrus and E2surge were longer, and the area under the E2curve was greater in the E-FLAX cows. Afterward, 7–8 days following behavioral estrus, follicular fluids (FFs) from >7 mm follicles were aspirated. The proportions of n-3 FA increased in plasma, FF, and granulosa cells in the E-FLAX group. The concentrations of PGE2in the E2-active follicles tended to be lower in the E-FLAX cows (P<0.06). In conclusion, several modifications in hormonal and behavioral estrus patterns were demonstrated in cows fed n-3 FA, which might be attributed to alterations in membrane FA composition and partly mediated by lower PGE2synthesis.

Increased preconception omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake improves embryo morphology

The association between preconception dietary intake of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) omega-6 and omega-3 and the E(2) levels and IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome were investigated in women in a prospective study. It revealed that high intakes of omega-3 LC-PUFA alpha-linolenic acid increase baseline E(2), high intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid reduce E(2) response and the number of follicles after ovarian stimulation, and total omega-3 intake, in particular alpha-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, improve embryo morphology.

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increase oxidative stress in rats with intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke

Intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been suggested to associate with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The present study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that EPA and DHA increase oxidative stress and hemorrhage volume in rats with intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) stroke. Thirty-five-week-old male rats were fed an American Institute of Nutrition-93M diet containing 0% (n = 27), 0.5% (n = 15), or 1% EPA + DHA of total energy for 5 weeks. Of 5 rats fed 1% EPA + DHA (41%), 5 died because of excessive bleeding within 12 hours after ICH surgery. Behavior test score and hemorrhage volume were significantly (P < .05) greater in the 1% EPA + DHA-fed rats than in other rats. Magnetic resonance imaging consistently showed that edema and bleeding were visible in only the rats fed 1% EPA + DHA. Levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were significantly (P < .05) lower in rats fed 0.5% and 1% EPA + DHA than those fed 0% EPA + DHA. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance content was significantly (P < .05) higher in 1% EPA + DHA-fed rats than in 0% and 0.5% EPA + DHA-fed rats. The level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine was significantly (P < .05) higher in ICH rats with all diets than in sham surgery rats. Brain levels of EPA and DHA were highest in rats fed 1% EPA + DHA than in rats fed 0% and 0.5% EPA + DHA. These results suggested that intake of 1% EPA + DHA of total energy could lead to oxidative damage to the brain and thus increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke in this rat model.

Low level of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocytes is a risk factor for both acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in Koreans

Evidence suggesting an association between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and stroke risk has been inconsistent, possibly because previous studies have not differentiated between different stroke types. The present study investigated the hypothesis that tissue levels of n-3 PUFA are positively associated with hemorrhagic stroke and negatively associated with ischemic stroke. We recruited 120 subjects for this case-control study, with 40 cases each of hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and unaffected controls. Patients with a family history of hemorrhagic stroke had a significantly increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke. Omega-3 Index (20:5n3 + 22:6n3 in erythrocytes) and 22:6n3 were negatively (P < .01) associated with the risk of both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in multivariate analyses. Saturated fatty acids 16:0 and 18:0 were positively associated, whereas 18:2n6 and 18:3n6 were negatively (P < .05) associated with risk of ischemic stroke. Monounsaturated fatty acid, 18:1n9, increased (P = .03) the odds of hemorrhagic stroke. Omega-3 Index and docosahexaenoic acid were significantly lower in patients with both subtypes of hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage, but only in one subtype of ischemic stroke, small-artery occlusion. Saturated fatty acids 16:0 and 18:0 were significantly higher, but 20:4n6 was significantly lower, in patients with small-artery occlusion. Linoleic acid was significantly lower in patients with small-artery occlusion and large-artery atherosclerosis, whereas 18:1n9 was higher in both subgroups of hemorrhagic stroke. In conclusion, the results of our case-control study suggest that erythrocyte n-3 PUFA may protect against hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke, particularly in the case of small-artery occlusion.