Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T05:39:41.477Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A dietary supplement of calcium soaps of fatty acids enhances luteal function in sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

M. Kuran ,
A.G. Onal ,
J.J. Robinbson ,
K. Mackie ,
B.K. Speake  and
T.G. McEvoy
M. Kuran
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
A.G. Onal
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
J.J. Robinbson
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
K. Mackie
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
B.K. Speake
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
T.G. McEvoy
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Biology Division, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA
Get access

Abstract

The effect of a dietary supplement of calcium soaps of fatty acids on luteal steroidogenic activity was studied in sheep. Mature 3- to 5-year-old North Country Cheviot ewes were given either a pelleted control diet (C; grass, beet pulp, barley; no. = 15) providing daily, 29⋅8 g nitrogen and 13⋅7 MJ of metabolizable energy (ME) or the same diet with 5% (w/w) of the ingredients replaced with protected lipid (C + CaFA; calcium soaps of fatty acids, Megalac, Volac Etd; no. = 15) for 21 days. The latter diet provided daily 30⋅2 g nitrogen and 15⋅9 MJ ME. At the end of the feeding period the ewes were slaughtered and blood samples and ovaries were collected from individual animals. The numbers of large- (≤ 4 mm diameter) and small- to medium-sized (1 to 3 mm diameter) follicles were recorded and follicular fluids from both size groups were stored for later analyses following centrifugation. Each mature corpus luteum (CL) was isolated from its ovary and sliced to provide a pair of ca. 0⋅3 mm diameter sections. These sections (mean = 163 (s.e.12) mg) were cultured separately (4 h; 39°C; 5% CO2) in 3 ml Medium 199 in the absence or presence of 100 μIU LH. Dietary supplementation of calcium soaps of fatty acids increased progesterone concentrations in the plasma (P < 0⋅05) and follicular fluid (P < 0⋅01 and P < 0⋅05 for large and small to medium follicles, respectively); trigylcerides in plasma (P < 0⋅05); total cholesterol in plasma (P < 0⋅001) and follicular fluid (P < 0⋅001); HDL-cholesterol in plasma (P < 0⋅001) and follicular fluid (P < 0⋅01) and LDL-cholesterol in plasma (P < 0⋅01). Progesterone released by luteal tissue into the culture medium in vitro from ewes given protected lipid was higher than that from tissue of control ewes (P < 0⋅05) and supplementary LH in vitro stimulated progesterone secretion by luteal tissues from both groups (P < 0⋅05). In conclusion, a dietary supplement of calcium soaps of fatty acids altered the intra-follicular environment surrounding the oocyte and follicular cells and enhanced luteal function in sheep.

Keywords

corpus luteumdietary lipidsprogesteronesheep
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 69 , Issue 2 , October 1999 , pp. 385 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashworth, C.J., Sales, D.I. and Wilmut, I. 1989. Evidence of an association between the survival of embryos and the periovulatory plasma progesterone concentration in the ewe. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 87: 23–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bao, B., Thomas, M.G., Griffith, M.K., Burghardt, R.C. and Williams, G.L. 1995. Steroidogenic activity, insulinlike growth factor-1 production and proliferation of granulosa and theca cells obtained from dominant preovulatory and nonovulatory follicles during the bovine estrous cycle: effects of low-density and high-density lipoproteins. Biology of Reproduction 53: 1271–1279.Google Scholar
Bao, B., Thomas, M.G. and Williams, G.L. 1997. Regulatory roles of high-density and low-density lipoproteins in cellular proliferation and secretion of progesterone and insulin-like growth factor I by enriched cultures of bovine small and large luteal cells. Journal of Animal Science 75: 3235–3245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beam, S.W. and Butler, W.R. 1998. Energy balance, metabolic hormones, and early postpartum follicular development in dairy cows fed prilled lipid. Journal of Dairy Science 81: 121–131.Google Scholar
Burke, J.M., Carroll, D.J., Rowe, K.E., Thatcher, W.W. and Stormshak, F. 1996. Intravascular infusion of lipid into ewes stimulates production of progesterone and prostaglandin. Biology of Reproduction 55: 169–175.Google Scholar
Carroll, D.J., Grummer, R.R. and Clayton, M.K. 1992a. Stimulation of luteal cell progesterone production by lipoproteins from cows fed control or fat-supplemented diets. Journal of Diary Science 75: 2205–2214.Google Scholar
Carroll, D.J., Grummer, R.R. and Mao, F.C. 1992b. Progesterone production by cultured luteal cells in the presence of bovine low- and high-density lipoproteins purified by heparin affinity chromatography. Journal of Animal Science 70: 2516–2526.Google Scholar
Downing, J. A. and Scaramuzzi, R.J. 1991. Nutrient effects on ovulation rate, ovarian function and the secretion of gonadotrophic and metabolic hormones in sheep. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 43: 209–227.Google Scholar
Garcia-Bojalil, C.M., Staples, C.R., Risco, C.A., Savio, J.D. and Thatcher, W.W. 1998. Protein degradability and calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids in the diets of lactating dairy cows: reproductive responses. Journal of Dairy Science 81: 1385–1395.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garrett, J.E., Geisert, R.D., Zavy, M.T. and Morgan, G.L. 1988. Evidence for maternal regulation of early conceptus growth and development in beef cattle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 84: 437–446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grummer, R.R. and Carroll, D.J. 1988. A review of lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism: importance to ovarian function. Journal of Animal Science 66: 3160–3173.Google Scholar
Grummer, R.R. and Carroll, D.J. 1991. Effects of dietary fat on metabolic disorders and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. Journal of Animal Science 69: 3838–3852.Google Scholar
Gutierrez, C.G., Oldham, J., Bramley, T.A., Gong, J.G., Campbell, B.K. and Webb, R. 1997. The recruitment of ovarian follicles is enhanced by increased dietary intake in heifers. Journal of Animal Science 75: 1876–1884.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hawkins, D.E., Niswender, K.D., Oss, G.M., Moeller, C.L., Odde, K.G., Sawyer, H.R. and Niswender, G.D. 1995. An increase in serum lipids increases luteal lipid content and alters the disappearance rate of progesterone in cows. Journal of Animal Science 73: 541–545.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hightshoe, R.B., Cochran, R.C., Corah, L.R., Kiracofe, G.H., Harmon, D.L. and Perry, R.C. 1991. Effects of calcium soaps of fatty acids on postpartum reproductive function in beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 69: 4097–4103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kleemann, D.O., Walker, S.K. and Seamark, R.F. 1994. Enhanced fetal growth in sheep administered progesterone during the first three days of pregnancy. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 102: 411–427.Google Scholar
Kuran, M., Hutchinson, J.S.M. and Broadbent, P.J. 1996. The response of bovine granulosa cells to different gonadotrophins in culture. Animal Reproduction Science 45: 1–12.Google Scholar
Kuran, M., Onal, A.G., Robinson, J.J., Speake, B.K., Gebbie, F.E. and McEvoy, T.G. 1998. Dietary lipid influences progesterone production by ovine luteal tissue in vitro. Proceedings of the 14th scientific meeting of the European Embryo Transfer Association, p. 188 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Lammoglia, M.A., Willard, S.T., Hallford, D.M. and Randel, R.D. 1997. Effects of dietary fat on follicular development and circulating concentrations of lipids, insulin, progesterone, estradiol-17ß, 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α and growth hormone in estrous cyclic Brahman cows. Journal of Animal Science 75: 1591–1600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larson, S.F., Butler, W.R. and Currie, W.B. 1997. Reduced fertility associated with low progesterone postbreeding and increased milk urea nitrogen in lactating cows. Journal of Dairy Science 80: 1288–1295.Google Scholar
Luck, M.R. 1994. The gonadal extracellular matrix. Oxford Reviews of Reproductive Biology 16: 33–85.Google Scholar
Lucy, M.C., De La Sota, R.L., Staples, C.R. and Thatcher, W.W. 1993. Ovarian follicular populations in lactating dairy cows treated with recombinant bovine somatotropin (somatribove) or saline and fed diets differing in fat content and energy. Journal of Dairy Science 76: 1014–1027.Google Scholar
Lucy, M.C., Staples, C.R., Michel, F.M. and Thatcher, W.W. 1991. Effect of feeding calcium soaps to early postpartum dairy cows on plasma prostaglandin F2α´, luteinizing hormone and follicular growth. Journal of Dairy Science 74: 483–489.Google Scholar
McEvoy, T.G., Robinson, J.J., Aitken, R.P., Findlay, P.A., Palmer, R.M. and Robertson, I.S. 1995. Dietary-induced suppression of pre-ovulatory progesterone concentrations in superovulated ewes impairs the subséquents in vivo and in vitro development of their ova. Animal Reproduction Science 39: 89–107.Google Scholar
McNeilly, A.S. and Fraser, H.M. 1987. Effect of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist-induced suppression of LH and FSH on follicle growth and corpus luteum function in the ewe. Journal of Endocrinology 115: 273–282.Google Scholar
Mann, G.E., Lamming, G.E. and Fray, M.D. 1995. Plasma oestradiol and progesterone during early pregnancy in the cow and the effects of treatment with buserelin. Animal Reproduction Science 37: 121–131.Google Scholar
Mann, G.E., Mann, S.J. and Lamming, G.E. 1996. The inter-relationships between the maternal hormone environment and the embryo during the early stages of pregnancy in the cow. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Abstract Series 17: 21 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Nestel, P.J., Poyser, A., Hood, R.L., Mills, S.C., Willis, M.R., Cook, L.J. and Scott, T.W. 1978. The effect of dietary fat supplements on cholesterol metabolism in ruminants. Journal of Lipid Research 19: 899–909.Google Scholar
Niswender, G.D. and Nett, T.M. 1988. Corpus luteum and its control. In The physiology of reproduction (ed. Knobil, E. and Neill, J.), pp. 489–525. Raven Press, New York.Google Scholar
Oldham, C.M. and Lindsay, D.R. 1980. Laparoscopy in the ewe: a photographic record of the ovarian activity of ewes experiencing normal or abnormal oestrous cycles. Animal Reproduction Science 3: 119–124.Google Scholar
Oldick, B.S., Staples, C.R., Thatcher, W.W. and Gyawu, P. 1997. Abomasal infusion of glucose and fat — effect on digestion, production and ovarian and uterine function of cows. Journal of Dairy Science 80: 1315–1328.Google Scholar
Onal, A.G., Robinson, J.J., Speake, B.K., Dolman, D.F., Watt, R.G., King, M.E., Coull, G.D. and McEvoy, T.G. 1998. Dietary lipid and donor age effects on sheep embryo yield and quality following superovulation. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Abstract Series 21: 48 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Ryan, D.P., Bao, B., Griffith, M.K. and Williams, G.L. 1995. Metabolic and luteal sequelae to heightened dietary fat intake in undernourished, anestrous beef cows induced to ovulate. Journal of Animal Science 73: 2086–2093.Google Scholar
Ryan, D.P., Spoon, R.A. and Williams, G.L. 1992. Ovarian follicular characteristics, embryo recovery and embryo viability in heifers fed high-fat diets and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone. Journal of Animal Science 70: 3505–3513.Google Scholar
Savion, N., Laherty, R., Cohen, D., Lui, G. and Gospodarowicz, D. 1982. Role of lipoproteins and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in progesterone production by cultured bovine granulosa cells. Endocrinology 11: 13–22.Google Scholar
Sklan, D., Moallem, U. and Folman, Y. 1991. Effect of feeding calcium soaps of fatty acids on production and reproductive responses in high producing lactating cows. Journal of Dairy Science 74: 510–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Speake, B.K., Cerolini, S., Maldjian, A. and Noble, R.C. 1997. The preferential mobilisation of C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids from the adipose tissue of the chick embryo: potential implications regarding the provision of essential fatty acids for neural development. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1345: 317–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spicer, L.J., Vernon, R.K., Tucker, W.B., Wettemann, R.P., Hogue, J.F. and Adams, G.D. 1993. Effects of inert fat on energy balance, plasma concentrations of hormones and reproduction in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 76: 2664–2673.Google Scholar
Staples, C.R., Burke, J.M. and Thatcher, W.W. 1998. Influence of supplemental fats on reproductive tissues and performance of lactating cows. Journal of Dairy Science 81: 856–871.Google Scholar
Talavera, F., Park, C.S. and Williams, G.L. 1985. Relationships among dietary lipid intake, serum cholesterol and ovarian function in Holstein heifers. Journal of Animal Science 60: 1045–1051.Google Scholar
Thomas, M.G., Bao, B. and Williams, G.L. 1997. Dietary fats varying in their fatty acid composition differentially influence follicular growth in cows fed isoenergetic diets. Journal of Animal Science 75: 2512–2519.Google Scholar
Thomas, M.G. and Williams, G.L. 1996. Metabolic hormone secretion and FSH-induced superovulatory responses of beef heifers fed dietary fat supplements containing predominantly saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. Theriogenology 45: 451–458.Google Scholar
Wehrman, M.E., Welsh, T.H. Jr and Williams, G.L. 1991. Diet-induced hyperlipidemia in cattle modifies the intrafollicular cholesterol environment, modulates ovarian follicular dynamics and hastens the onset of postpartum luteal activity. Biology of Reproduction 45: 514–522.Google Scholar
Williams, G.L. 1989. Modulation of luteal activity in postpartum beef cows through changes in dietary lipid. Journal of Animal Science 67: 785–793.Google Scholar
Yonai, M., Geshi, M., Takahashi, T., Hashizume, K. and Nagai, T. 1998. Role of lipid metabolism on interval from parturition to first estrus and follicular dynamics during post-partum anoestrous period in suckled Japanese Black cows. In Gametes: development and function (ed. Lauria, A. Gandolfi, F. Enne, G. and Gianaroli, L.), p. 620 (abstr.). Serono Symposia, Rome.Google Scholar