Altering n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios affects prostaglandin production by ovine uterine endometrium

• Published in: Animal reproduction science 2013-12, Vol.143 (1-4), p.38-47
• Main Authors: Cheng, Zhangrui, Abayasekara, D. Robert E, Ward, Freya, Preece, Daniel M.W, Raheem, Kabir A, Wathes, D. Claire
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; arachidonic acid; cattle; Cells, Cultured; cultured cells; Cyclooxygenase 1 - genetics; Cyclooxygenase 1 - metabolism; Cyclooxygenase 2 - genetics; Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism; eicosapentaenoic acid; Endometrial cells; endometrium; Endometrium - drug effects; Endometrium - metabolism; Ewe; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - pharmacology; Female; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic - drug effects; Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases - genetics; Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases - metabolism; immunocytochemistry; lipopolysaccharides; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; messenger RNA; omega-3 fatty acids; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins - metabolism; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; radioimmunoassays; sheep; Sheep - genetics; Sheep - metabolism; Uterus; Uterus - drug effects; Uterus - metabolism
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2013.10.015

Consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is considered beneficial to health but effects on fertility remain uncertain. This study investigated the effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on endometrial prostaglandin (PG) production. Ovine uterine endometrial cells were cultured to confluence in DMEM/F12 medium containing 10% foetal bovine serum. Stromal and epithelial cell populations were confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Cultures were supplemented with 0, 20 or 100μM of α-linolenic acid (ALA), stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 0 and 0.1μg/ml, or different combinations of EPA with arachidonic acid (AA) in serum-free medium for 24h. PGs were quantified using radioimmunoassay and PG-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS) isoforms, PGE and PGF synthase (microsomal PGES1 and PGFS) mRNAs by qPCR. LPS increased PGE₂ production significantly without changing PGF₂α production, causing increased PGE₂:PGF₂α ratios. ALA and SDA increased PGE₂, PGF₂α and PGE₂:PGF₂α ratios (P