Ovulatory response and embryo quality and development in superovulated Pelibuey ewes supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet
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This study evaluated the effect of adding polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to the diet on the number of corpora lutea, total cells and embryos collected; development and morphological quality of embryos recovered from superovulated Pelibuey ewes. Twenty-six (26) Pelibuey ewes were randomly distributed into two groups: 1) (control) Diet based on grass and a supplement without fatty acids (WFA) and group 2) Same diet as WFA plus 4 % of total dry matter of the diet as corn oil as a source of PUFAs. The estrous cycle was synchronized with two injections of PGF2a. The superovulation (SO) treatment began on d 10 of the estrous cycle with 200 mg of FSHp, in decreasing doses for 4 d. On the third day of SO treatment, 15 mg of PGF2a were administered, and ewes were mated to a fertile ram. Embryos were collected on d 6 after mating. Numbers of CL (14.73 1.87 vs 10.73 1.42); total cells collected (9.18 2.16 vs 4.18 1.36) and EMB (6.72 1.78 vs 3.09 1.36) were higher (P<0.05) in the PUFAs group than in the WFA group, respectively. Adding polyunsaturated fatty acids had a positive effect (P<0.05) on number of embryos in morula stage (5.90 1.59), in comparison to the WFA group (2.18 1.30). No effect of PUFAs' addition was observed on embryo morphologic quality (P>0.05). Addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids has a positive effect on superovulatory response, as observed in the number of corpora lutea, total cells and embryos collected, and also in an increase of the number of embryos in morula stage.
