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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202986
Title: Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to gestation and lactation diets on the expression of immune related genes in white blood cells of lactating sows

Author
item MATEO, RONALD - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
item Dowd, Scot
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item KIM, SUNGWOO - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Midwestern Section of the American Society of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2006
Publication Date: 3/19/2007
Citation: Mateo, R.D., Dowd, S.E., Carroll, J.A., Kim, S.W. 2007. Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to gestation and lactation diets on the expression of immune related genes in white blood cells of lactating sows [abstract]. In: Abstracts, 2007 ADSA/ASAS Midwest Meeting, March 19-21, 2007, Des Moines, IA. Abstract No. 179.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Forty-nine first parity sows (BW of 197.7 ± 2.5 kg and BF of 14.87 ± 0.21 mm) were used in this study. On d 60 of gestation, pregnant gilts were assigned to one of two dietary treatments which consisted of either a corn-soy meal basal diet (CON) or the basal diet supplemented with 1% Fertilium™ (United Feeds, Inc. Sheridan, IN) (O3) which were maintained throughout the study. Gestation diets contained 3.1 ME (Mcal/kg) and 12.3% CP and were fed daily at 2 kg. Lactation diets contained 3.2 ME (Mcal/kg) and 17.9% CP and where provided ad libitum throughout lactation. Blood samples (3 mL) were collected into Tempus RNA blood tubes via jugular venepuncture at 21 d of lactation and further processed for microarray analysis. Using an immune system targeted microarray, 8 hybridizations and dye swaps were performed and results validated with quantitative RT-PCR. Expression analysis showed that long term feeding of n-3 fatty acids to sows resulted in marked upregulation (P < 0.05) of immune related genes including the components of immunoglobulin, including Ig kappa and heavy chain region, SLA-6, myelin and lymphocyte protein, activin receptor IIA, CD1a, Noxa, arginase I, and glutathione peroxidase. Repressed genes included resistin, protein kinase C alpha, toll-like receptor 2, inflammatory response protein 6, angiopoietin-2, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor 1. Functional analysis of the results showed enrichment of Epidermal growth factor related genes, iron binding genes, and genes associated with transferase activity. Results from the study indicate that n-3 fatty acid supplementation during late gestation, up to lactation, increases expression of leukocyte immune related genes and decreases expression of inflammatory genes which may enhance immune response of first parity lactating sows.