Abstract
The effect of dietary administration with essential unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid [18:2 (n-6)], a mixture of oleic acid [18:1 (n-9)], linoleic acid and γ-linolenic acid [18:3 (n-6)], or α-linolenic acid [18:3 (n-3)], on early embryo development of pubertal female pigs in summer was examined. Safflower oil was supplemented to a concentrated diet (the control diet) at the rate of 5% (Safflower oil-diet). The concentration of linoleic acid was 3.75 g/100 g in the Safflower oil-diet. Fatty acids-enriched mold dried cell was supplemented to the control diet at the rate of 20% (Mold dried cell-diet). The concentration of γ-linolenic acid was 5.32 g/100 g in the Mold dried cell-diet. Mold dried cell also contains oleic acid and linoleic acid at concentrations of 7.28 g/100 g and 2.98 g/100 g, respectively. Perilla oil was supplemented to the control diet at the rate of 7.5% (Perilla oil-diet). The concentration of α-linolenic acid was 4.125 g/100 g in the Perilla oil-diet. Each diet was given daily to five crossbred pubertal gilts for approximately 4 months. From at least 70 days after the start of the experimental diets, embryo collections were performed. The control embryos were obtained from the same breed, 10 pubertal gilts, given only the control diet. Embryos were collected on day 6 (day 1=the last day of estrus) and assessed morphologically. Embryo collection was repeated twice for each pig fed the diet supplemented with essential unsaturated fatty acids. The mean number of corpora lutea was greater in gilts given Mold dried cell-diet than in gilts given Safflower oil-diet (P<0.05) or Perilla oil-diet (P<0.01). The mean number of ova recovered in gilts given Mold dried cell-diet was also greater than that in gilts given the control diet (P<0.05), Safflower oil-diet (P<0.05) or Perilla oil-diet (P<0.01). Furthermore, both the mean number and the proportion of embryos showing normal morphology in gilts given Mold dried cell-diet were significantly higher than in gilts given the control diet, Safflower oil-diet or Perilla oil-diet. These results indicate that the unsaturated fatty acids-enriched mold dried cell may be beneficial for improving ovulation rate and embryo quality.
