INFLUENCE OF FISH OIL ON CORPUS LUTEUM FUNCTION

Our overarching goal is to reduce early embryonic mortality and improve profitability in farm animals through supplemental feeding strategies. Dietary supplementation of fish oil is luteal protective to intrauterine infusions of prostaglandin F2a. However, there is currently a knowledge gap in our understanding of how fish products affect corpus luteum function in ruminants, specifically luteal sensitivity to prostaglandin F2a. The goal of this project is to bridge this gap of knowledge. The specific objectives of this project will be to 1) determine luteal blood flow following intrauterine infusion of prostaglandin F2a and 2) determine the expression of key genes and abundance of critical proteins that regulate progesterone biosynthesis following prostaglandin F2a treatment.