Abstract #M215
Section: Physiology and Endocrinology
Session: Physiology and Endocrinology: Effects of nutrition and metabolism on ruminant reproduction
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
Session: Physiology and Endocrinology: Effects of nutrition and metabolism on ruminant reproduction
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Gatlin Ballroom
# M215
Distribution of fatty acids in reproductive tissues of cows fed flax-, canola-, or sunflower seed-based rations.
Patricia A. Dutra1,2, Mohanathas Gobikrushanth*2, Reza Salehi2, Marcos G. Colazo3, Divakar J. Ambrose2,3, 1Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 3Livestock Research Branch, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Key Words: fatty acid, reproductive tissue, diet
Distribution of fatty acids in reproductive tissues of cows fed flax-, canola-, or sunflower seed-based rations.
Patricia A. Dutra1,2, Mohanathas Gobikrushanth*2, Reza Salehi2, Marcos G. Colazo3, Divakar J. Ambrose2,3, 1Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 3Livestock Research Branch, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Essential fatty acids (FA) like linoleic (C18:2) and α-linolenic (C18:3) acids play key roles in reproductive function. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of fatty acids in the reproductive tissues of cows fed 3 different lipid diets. Nonlactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to receive one of the 3 diets supplemented with rolled oilseeds: canola (CAN = 5), sunflower (SUN = 5), or flax (FLX = 5) at 8%DM. After cows had been on the experimental diets for at least 60 d, they were superovulated, inseminated and slaughtered 14 d after insemination. While embryos were used in another study, tissue samples of the uterus, oviduct and corpus luteum (CL) were collected and kept frozen until analyzed for FA. Fats from the reproductive tissues were extracted and methylated using indirect methylation method, and FA profiles in each tissue type were determined by gas chromatography. Primarily, the effects of diet, type of tissue, and their interactions on FA of our interest [oleic (C18:1), C18:2, C18:3, eicosapentaenoic (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6)] were evaluated using Mixed procedure of SAS. As the interactions between diet and type of tissue were not significant, FA concentration was finally modeled against effects of diet and type of tissue. Diet did not affect FA concentrations. Except for oleic acid (P = 0.07), all of the other aforementioned FA differed (P < 0.05) among tissue types. The concentrations (mg/50mg tissue) of C18:2, C18:3 and C20:5, respectively, were higher in CL (0.282, 0.020 and 0.019) than in uterus (0.075, 0.004 and 0.008) and oviduct (0.037, 0.003 and 0.001). However, the concentration of C22:6 was higher in uterus than oviduct or CL (0.008 vs. 0.005 or 0.004). In addition, the amount of total FA, saturated FA, polyunsaturated FA, n-3 and n-6 FA were significantly higher in CL than uterus or oviduct. Results indicate that CL accumulates most of the FA of our interest than the uterus or oviduct, whereas C22:6 was more concentrated in the uterus. The biological reasons for this differential accumulation of FA among reproductive tissues need further investigation.
Key Words: fatty acid, reproductive tissue, diet
