Effect of fish oil or algae meal supplementation on fetal and neonatal endotoxin-induced stress response

Abstract

Maternal stress can alter responsiveness of the offsprings’ HPAA in later life. The current study investigated if maternal stress induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS 10 μg/kg), and maternal supplementation with fish oil (FO) or algae meal (AM), which both contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 PUFAs, influenced the offsprings’ HPAA function. Sows were supplemented with FO, AM or control diets from gestation day (gd) 75 to parturition, and LPS stress or saline challenged on gd 112. Offspring were also LPS challenged at 28 days postpartum. Female offspring from LPS sows had a greater fever response than females from saline sows. Male offspring from LPS sows fed the FO and AM diets had a greater fever response than malesfrom the maternal CON diet group. The offsprings’ cortisol response varied depending on sex, maternal LPS exposure, and maternal diets. Overall, these results indicate that maternal stress and n-3 supplementation may influence responsiveness of offsprings’ HPAA.