Brazle, A.Rathbun, Theresa J.Johnson, B.Davis, Duane L.2009-10-202009-10-202009-10-20http://hdl.handle.net/2097/1881The IGF system of growth factors, receptors and binding proteins functions from early in pregnancy. Recent evidence indicates improved embryo survival in gilts fed supplemental omega-3 fatty acids beginning before conception. Here we report effects of supplementing a corn-soybean meal diet (control) with a marine source of protected omega-3 fatty acids (PFA, 1.5% of diet) on mRNA expression for IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and IGFBP-5 in the porcine gravid uterus. The PFA (Gromage™) contained equal amounts of eicosapentanoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic (DHA) acids and replaced corn in the diet beginning when gilts were approximately 170 d old (n = 13/treat-ment). Gilts were artificially inseminated at approximately 205 d of age. Conceptus and endometrial samples were collected on d 11, 15, and 19 of gestation. All gilts were pregnant. In the conceptus, message for IGF-II and IGFBP-3 increased (P<0.001) from d 15 to d 19, while there was an increase (P < 0.001) in IGF-I and IGFBP-5 from d 11 to 15 and a decrease (P<0.001) to d 19. In the endometrium, message for IGF-I was stable over the interval, but message for IGF-II and IGFBP-5 were increased by d 15 and IGFBP-3 by d 19 (P<0.01). There were trends for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to increase endometrial IGF-II (P = 0.09) and IGFBP-5 (P = 0.12) on d 15. In the d-19 conceptus, embryonic but not extraembryonic IGF-I mRNA tended to be greater (P = 0.13) for PFA compared to control gilts. During d 11 to 19 the conceptus is elongating, attaching to the uterus, and the embryonic disc is differentiating from a homogenous tissue to form the tissues and organs of the adult. One mechanism for omega-3 fatty acid effects in early pregnancy could involve epigenetic effects on mRNA expression for the IGF and IGFBP proteins.SwineReproductionIGFOmega-3 fatty acidsConference paper