Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NUTREPHEALTH (Effect of polyinsatured fatty acids omega-3 (PUFAS n-3) supplementation during early embryo development on embryo viability in (mammals) sheep.)
Période du rapport: 2020-02-01 au 2022-01-31
Reproductive failure has been the subject of a wide spectrum of studies related meanly to livestock production as well as to human health fields. Some of these studies have been addressed to resolve problems associated to infertility, more specifically, during first days of pregnancy/early stage of pregnancy. However, despite of the efforts to maintain outstanding reproductive performance, the reproductive failures are still considerable. This reproductive failure is related to a failure in maternal-embryo communication during early stage of pregnancy. In fact, 25 to 55% and 40 to 55% of embryonic losses -in sheep herds and cattle, respectively - occur during the early stage of pregnancy. In this sense, nutritional factor is one of the most important issues involved in the reproductive efficiency. The strategic use of nutraceutical products (nutrient with therapeutic effect) is considered as an alternative tool for resolving the reproductive failures during early stage of pregnancy. In this sense, the use of polyunsaturated fatty acids like omega-3 (PUFASn-3) has a positive effect on human and animal health (involving numerous biological process such as vision, growth, brain development, and reproduction). Nevertheless, their effect on fertility -specifically during early stage of pregnancy- have been controversial and non-conclusive, justifying the necessity to perform further studies.
Linseed oil is considered an important botanical source of PUFASn-3 used in animal feeding. Thus, its effect on fertility indexes in livestock species would has positive impact on livestock. In addition, its implementation guarantee/enhance the animal welfare, due to that it contributes to diminish the dependence of chemical products (e.g. hormones) commonly used intensive reproductive management. In consequence, it would reduce the residues in body tissues and contribute to offer healthy products (e.g. milk and meat) for human consumption impacting positively on public health and reducing health care cost.
Considering the above mentioned, the aim of the present project was evaluating the mechanism that exert the dietary supplementation of by-pass linseed oil during embryo-maternal recognition of pregnancy using ovine species a mammal model. In this study, linseed oil effect was evaluated at embryonic and maternal levels (individually) as well as on embryo-maternal cross-talk/relationships.
Linseed oil is considered an important botanical source of PUFASn-3 used in animal feeding. Thus, its effect on fertility indexes in livestock species would has positive impact on livestock. In addition, its implementation guarantee/enhance the animal welfare, due to that it contributes to diminish the dependence of chemical products (e.g. hormones) commonly used intensive reproductive management. In consequence, it would reduce the residues in body tissues and contribute to offer healthy products (e.g. milk and meat) for human consumption impacting positively on public health and reducing health care cost.
Considering the above mentioned, the aim of the present project was evaluating the mechanism that exert the dietary supplementation of by-pass linseed oil during embryo-maternal recognition of pregnancy using ovine species a mammal model. In this study, linseed oil effect was evaluated at embryonic and maternal levels (individually) as well as on embryo-maternal cross-talk/relationships.
The work plan consisted meanly to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary supplementation of by-pass linseed oil (LO; botanical source rich on alpha linolenic acid; PUFASn-3 source) on embryo maternal recognition during early stage of pregnancy in mammals (using ovine specie).
Two experiments were carried out to reach this objective. The first experiment was performed during first year of the work plan to determine the overall effect of dietary supplementation of LO on embryo-maternal recognition of pregnancy during first days of pregnancy. The second experiment was carried out during second year of the work plan to study -separately- the effects dietary supplementation of LO at embryo and maternal level as well as their interaction. Both experimental phases were performed using interdisciplinary techniques such as: morphologic studies, hormonal-metabolic assays, genomics and proteomics procedures and embryo recover/transfer technologies. The project was carried out at Veterinary Department from Sassari University (UNISS; host institution), Sardinian Regional Agency for Research and Technologic Innovation (AGRIS) and Zaragoza University (UNIZAR; secondment). In addition, the product (LO) used in this study was provided by local industry (Italy) which reinforce the European dimension of this project.
Preliminary results obtained so far indicate a positive effect of dietary supplementation of LO on maternal environment during early stage of pregnancy. In this sense, LO enhanced high levels of progesterone maternal progesterone level (hormone responsible to maintain the pregnancy) during this period. Also, antioxidative properties of LO maternal tissues were demonstrated. Furthermore, the results obtained indicate that dietary supplementation of LO enhanced the oocyte quality in term of number of embryos produced under in-vitro conditions. However, this increasement was not significatively different to those non supplemented (control) ewes. Currently, samples from reproductive organs (maternal component) and embryos obtained from non-supplemented and supplemented ewes are being analysed using mentioned complementary/depth techniques. The aim of these techniques will be evaluating the embryo-maternal communications, between ewes non-supplemented and supplemented with LO.
At the present the result obtained has been disseminated scientific international meeting as well as seminar devoted to students and research institutes liked to life science sector. In addition, social network (e.g. facebook) has been used to spread these results. During next months these activities will continue and/or be enlarged to other stakeholders and general audiences (e.g. farmer, high school student, etc). Also, publication of the results will be performed in high-impact scientific journals linked to life science field.
Two experiments were carried out to reach this objective. The first experiment was performed during first year of the work plan to determine the overall effect of dietary supplementation of LO on embryo-maternal recognition of pregnancy during first days of pregnancy. The second experiment was carried out during second year of the work plan to study -separately- the effects dietary supplementation of LO at embryo and maternal level as well as their interaction. Both experimental phases were performed using interdisciplinary techniques such as: morphologic studies, hormonal-metabolic assays, genomics and proteomics procedures and embryo recover/transfer technologies. The project was carried out at Veterinary Department from Sassari University (UNISS; host institution), Sardinian Regional Agency for Research and Technologic Innovation (AGRIS) and Zaragoza University (UNIZAR; secondment). In addition, the product (LO) used in this study was provided by local industry (Italy) which reinforce the European dimension of this project.
Preliminary results obtained so far indicate a positive effect of dietary supplementation of LO on maternal environment during early stage of pregnancy. In this sense, LO enhanced high levels of progesterone maternal progesterone level (hormone responsible to maintain the pregnancy) during this period. Also, antioxidative properties of LO maternal tissues were demonstrated. Furthermore, the results obtained indicate that dietary supplementation of LO enhanced the oocyte quality in term of number of embryos produced under in-vitro conditions. However, this increasement was not significatively different to those non supplemented (control) ewes. Currently, samples from reproductive organs (maternal component) and embryos obtained from non-supplemented and supplemented ewes are being analysed using mentioned complementary/depth techniques. The aim of these techniques will be evaluating the embryo-maternal communications, between ewes non-supplemented and supplemented with LO.
At the present the result obtained has been disseminated scientific international meeting as well as seminar devoted to students and research institutes liked to life science sector. In addition, social network (e.g. facebook) has been used to spread these results. During next months these activities will continue and/or be enlarged to other stakeholders and general audiences (e.g. farmer, high school student, etc). Also, publication of the results will be performed in high-impact scientific journals linked to life science field.
Currently, there is scarce information about of effect of dietary supplementation of linseed oil (LO) during early stage of pregnancy in mammals. The combined use of interdisciplinary techniques in the present project is helping to dilucidated -progressively- those non-conclusive results obtained in previous studies. Currently, samples analyses are still being performed. The preliminary results obtained so far and those that will be added next month will help to enlarge our current knowledge about of benefits of LO on embryo-maternal relationships.
The impact of the present study contributes to diminish/re-emplace the use of chemical treatment (e.g. hormones) diminishing their residues in corporal compartments and guaranteeing the animal welfare, sustainable ecological production and secure food for people and/or consumers. A noteworthy aspect is that the European Union (EU) is one the most important worldwide’ s producers of LO; this ranking places the EU countries in a strategic position. Thus, the discovering of novelty properties of PUFASn-3 on reproductive field would increase the interesting of European industry sector to invest in the use of these products in the future, underlining the inter-sectorial possibilities/consequences of this action. In addition, the use of ovine species has been a classical experimental model in human medical studies (for both ethical and practical reasons). In this sense, fertility statistics reported by EUROSTAT indicate an increase in the average age of women at childbirth since 1960s. The consequence of this trend in the future is an increasing of women in their late 30s to 40s who are trying to conceive. The implementation of this proposal will allow obtaining knowledge that will be useful to women’s health and human reproduction field reinforcing the inter/multidisciplinary dimension of this proposal.
The impact of the present study contributes to diminish/re-emplace the use of chemical treatment (e.g. hormones) diminishing their residues in corporal compartments and guaranteeing the animal welfare, sustainable ecological production and secure food for people and/or consumers. A noteworthy aspect is that the European Union (EU) is one the most important worldwide’ s producers of LO; this ranking places the EU countries in a strategic position. Thus, the discovering of novelty properties of PUFASn-3 on reproductive field would increase the interesting of European industry sector to invest in the use of these products in the future, underlining the inter-sectorial possibilities/consequences of this action. In addition, the use of ovine species has been a classical experimental model in human medical studies (for both ethical and practical reasons). In this sense, fertility statistics reported by EUROSTAT indicate an increase in the average age of women at childbirth since 1960s. The consequence of this trend in the future is an increasing of women in their late 30s to 40s who are trying to conceive. The implementation of this proposal will allow obtaining knowledge that will be useful to women’s health and human reproduction field reinforcing the inter/multidisciplinary dimension of this proposal.