Expecting mothers often supplement with Omega-3s in a hope to deliver
smart children who pass the prestige universities entrance
examinations - what a mistake!

Taka

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 294: E425-E434, 2008. First published
December 11, 2007; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00409.2007
0193-1849/08

Maternal supply of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alter
mechanisms involved in oocyte and early embryo development in the
mouse

Sarah L. Wakefield,1 Michelle Lane,1 Samantha J. Schulz,1 Michelle L.
Hebart,2 Jeremy G. Thompson,1 and Megan Mitchell1
1Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Paediatrics and
Reproductive Health, and 2Discipline of Agricultural and Animal
Science, School of Agriculture and Wine, The University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, Australia

Despite the well-known benefits of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty
acid (PUFA) supplementation on human health, relatively little is
known about the effect of n-3 PUFA intake on fertility. More
specifically, the aim of this study was to determine how oocyte and
preimplantation embryo development might be influenced by n-3 PUFA
supply and to understand the possible mechanisms underlying these
effects. Adult female mice were fed a control diet or a diet
relatively high in the long-chain n-3 PUFAs for 4 wk, and ovulated
oocytes or zygotes were collected after gonadotropin stimulation.
Oocytes were examined for mitochondrial parameters (active
mitochondrial distribution, mitochondrial calcium and membrane
potential) and oxidative stress, and embryo developmental ability was
assessed at the blastocyst stage following 1) in vitro fertilization
(IVF) or 2) culture of in vivo-derived zygotes. This study
demonstrated that exposure of the oocyte during maturation in the
ovary to an environment high in n-3 PUFA resulted in altered
mitochondrial distribution and calcium levels and increased production
of reactive oxygen species. Despite normal fertilization and
development in vitro following IVF, the exposure of oocytes to an
environment high in n-3 PUFA during in vivo fertilization adversely
affected the morphological appearance of the embryo and decreased
developmental ability to the blastocyst stage. This study suggests
that high maternal dietary n-3 PUFA exposure periconception reduces
normal embryo development in the mouse and is associated with
perturbed mitochondrial metabolism, raising questions regarding
supplementation with n-3 PUFAs during this period of time.