Evaluation of maternal diet effects on body and ovary of female mouse offsprings

Background: Although polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and antioxidants are essential nutrients known to be required for reproduction, an increasing trend was observed in the consumption of n-6 fatty acids (FA) rather than n-3 FA. Besides, the key roles of omega-3 FA in maternal nutrition on offspring reproduction has not been studied yet.Objective: Our main objective was to investigate the effects of a maternal diet supplemented with fish oil and vitamin E on offspring’s body and ovarian weight.Materials and Methods: Forty female mice were randomly divided into: Control (Cont), Fish Oil (FO), Vitamin E (VE) and Vitamin E + Fish Oil (VEFO) diet. Mother mice were fed experimental diets from 14 days before mating till the end of the breastfeeding period. After weaning, offspring were fed standard diet and evaluated at puberty, 7 months and 10 months of age.Results: At puberty (9 wk old mice), body weight was significantly higher in VEFO group than Cont and VE. In 7 and 10 months old mice, body weight in FO and VEFO was significantly higher than VE group. Ovary weight in 7 and 10 months old mice was higher than 9 wk old mice (p<0.0001), it was approximately similar in Cont and VEFO groups and was higher than VE group (p<0.01).Conclusion: Although vitamin E supplementation to maternal diet alone showed negative effects on body and ovary weight, combination of vitamin E with fish oil in maternal diet increase body and ovary weight in 7 and 10 months old female offspring. Of course, it warrants further studies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vitamin E ، Fish oil ، Maternal diet ، Offspring ovary