Differential Effects of n-3 and n-6 Fatty Acids on Prostaglandin F2 Production by Bovine Endometrial Cells

Abstract

Recent studies have implicated n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the reduction of eicosanoid production in the bovine uterus. The objective of this study was to determine whether the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C(20:5), n-3) on PGF2alpha production by bovine endometrial (BEND) cells is influenced by the quantity of linoleic acid (C(18:2), n-6) in the incubation medium. Confluent BEND cells were incubated in the absence (control) or presence of 100 microM of EPA for 24 h. After incubation, cells were rinsed and then stimulated with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu; 100 ng/mL) for 6 h. Additional sets of culture dishes were treated with a combination of EPA and increasing n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios for 24 h and then challenged with PDBu for 6 h. The PDBu stimulated PGF2alpha secretion and upregulated steady-state concentrations of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta mRNA within 6 h. Preincubation of BEND cells with EPA for 24 h decreased PGF2alpha response to phorbol ester, but had no detectable effects on prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta mRNA abundance in PDBu-stimulated BEND cells. The inhibitory effect of EPA on PGF2alpha production was reverted in BEND cells treated with an increasing n-6-to-n-3 fatty acid ratio. Findings indicate that the net inhibition of endometrial PGF2alpha bioynthesis by n-3 fatty acids may vary depending on the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in the uterus.

Intrauterine administration of plant oils inhibits luteolysis in the mare

“…2005). Furthermore, depending on the type and ratio of different fatty acids, prostaglandin production can be modulated in terms of both the quantities and types of prostaglandin and the ratio of PGF to PGE (Caldari‐Torres et al . 2006; Childs et al .…”

“…For example, dietary fatty acids can inhibit prostaglandin synthetases and decrease PGF2a synthesis in reproductive tissues (Thatcher et al 1994;Mattos et al 2002;Naddafy et al 2005) or, conversely, in other situations can increase prostaglandin production (Petit et al 2004;Elmes et al 2005). Furthermore, depending on the type and ratio of different fatty acids, prostaglandin production can be modulated in terms of both the quantities and types of prostaglandin and the ratio of PGF to PGE (Caldari-Torres et al 2006;Childs et al 2008a,b).…”

Effect of Fatty Acids on Reproductive Performance of Ruminants

“…Thus, both arachidonic acid, but as well precursors of this fatty acid, such as linoleic acid increase the production of series 2 prostaglandin, while n-3 fatty acids compete with arachidonic acid and therefore reduce synthesis of such prostaglandin. In studies carried out in vitro, addition of eicosapentaenoic acid to the culture media of endometrial cells of cows, reduced production of endometrial PGF 2 from 88 to 40%, but this was reverted as the ratio of n-6:n-3 in the culture media was increased from 0 to 19% (Caldari-Torres et al, 2006). This observation is consistent with previous reports and suggest that the net inhibition of uterine PGF 2 synthesis by n-3 fatty acids may depend on the amount of n-6 fatty acids that reach the secretory tissue (Achard et al, 1997).…”

Application of dietary fish oil in dairy cow reproduction

“…The expression of genes that are responsible for synthesis of prostaglandins in the endometrium may depend on supplementation with an oral dose of PUFA n-3. In in vitro cultures, n-3 inhibition of biosynthesis of PGF 2α also depends on the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio, and the introduction of EPA and DHA into the cell culture reduced the production of PGF 2α (32). Conjugated linoleic acids (mixture isomers; CLAs) also inhibited synthesis of PGF 2α in the uterus independent of the concentration of linoleic acid or the n-6:n-3 ratio (33).…”