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Beneficial effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on preimplantation embryo development

Zoology and animal physiology

2024

MVDr. Dušan Fabian, DrSc.

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Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice

Large numbers of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime, according to a new report published by WHO. Around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility. Furthermore, in recent decades, many studies have reported a worrisome decrease in the reproductive performance of farm animals. Embryo losses in the early stages of development represent a difficult problem for farmers, as the fundamental element of meat and dairy production is the successful reproduction of animals. However, by managing nutrition during the periconceptional period the incidence of losses can be decreased considerably. Dietary lipid supplementation can be a good strategy to reduce the extent of reproductive failure. Research has shown that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are extremely important and almost essential during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. These acids are crucial for the proper development of the fetus's brain and eyes. Some of them not only pass through the placenta into the body of the growing fetus, but after birth continue into the body of the newborn through breast milk. Their presence is essential for the further development of the individual. The main aim of the study will be to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with PUFAs, on the ability to conceive and to reduce early embryo loss in animal model - mouse females. The complementary set of relevant and up-to-date physiological, morphological, biochemical and molecular biology methods will be used in our experiments. Furthemore, acquired knowledge would result in targeted use in livestock production, veterinary practice as well as human reproductive medicine.