Hormonal and metabolic adaptations in Omega-3-supplemented rabbit does during their first reproductive cycle.
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Lodi, Italy.
- 2Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
- 3Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania.
- 4Department of Life Science, Health and Health Professions, Università degli Studi "Link Campus University", Rome, Italy.
- 5Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
- 6Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
- 7LR13AGR02, Mateur Higher School of Agriculture, University of Carthage, Mateur, Tunisia.
- 8School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Matelica, Italy.
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) supplementation on endocrine and metabolic profiles of forty-five nulliparous rabbit does during their first reproductive cycle. Animals were randomly assigned to one of three diets: control (CNT), 5% extruded linseed (L), and 5% extruded linseed plus 0.2% Padina pavonica extract (LPP). Blood was sampled at baseline, artificial insemination, parturition, mid-lactation, and weaning, to determine the concentrations of cortisol, insulin, leptin, thyroid hormones (T₃, T₄), glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Reproductive stage significantly influenced endocrine and metabolic dynamics, with cortisol and NEFA peaking at parturition (p < 0.001). Supplemented groups, particularly LPP, showed higher T₃ concentrations (p < 0.05) and T₃/T₄ ratios (p < 0.01). The L diet maintained higher insulin during lactation (p < 0.05), while LPP lowered leptin at parturition (p < 0.01) and NEFA at insemination (p < 0.01), indicating an early decrease in lipid mobilization. Multivariate analysis suggested that n-3 PUFA supplementation promoted an endocrine profile characterized by enhanced thyroid activity and reduced lipid mobilization, consistent with a potentially favorable metabolic shift. In conclusion, enriching diets with n-3 PUFA, especially linseed combined with Padina pavonica extract, represents a promising nutritional strategy to support rabbit does during the highly demanding phases of their first reproductive cycle.
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BibTeX
@article{quattrone2026hormonal,
title = {{Hormonal and metabolic adaptations in Omega-3-supplemented rabbit does during their first reproductive cycle.}},
author = {Alda Quattrone and Nour Elhouda Fehri and Olimpia Barbato and Giovanni Ricci and Daniele Vigo and Luigj Turmalaj and Majlind Sulçe and Marta Castrica and Maria Laura Marongiu and Alessandro Dal Bosco and Bayrem Jemmali and Gerald Muça and Gabriele Brecchia and Giulio Curone and Laura Menchetti},
journal = {The veterinary quarterly},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1080/01652176.2026.2749322},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42954948},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Hormonal and metabolic adaptations in Omega-3-supplemented rabbit does during their first reproductive cycle.
AU - Alda Quattrone
AU - Nour Elhouda Fehri
AU - Olimpia Barbato
AU - Giovanni Ricci
AU - Daniele Vigo
AU - Luigj Turmalaj
AU - Majlind Sulçe
AU - Marta Castrica
AU - Maria Laura Marongiu
AU - Alessandro Dal Bosco
AU - Bayrem Jemmali
AU - Gerald Muça
AU - Gabriele Brecchia
AU - Giulio Curone
AU - Laura Menchetti
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - The veterinary quarterly
DO - 10.1080/01652176.2026.2749322
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42954948
AB - This study evaluated the effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) supplementation on endocrine and metabolic profiles of forty-five nulliparous rabbit does during their first reproductive cycle. Animals were randomly assigned to one of three diets: control (CNT), 5% extruded linseed (L), and 5% extruded linseed plus 0.2% Padina pavonica extract (LPP). Blood was sampled at baseline, artificial insemination, parturition, mid-lactation, and weaning, to determine the concentrations of cortisol, insulin, leptin, thyroid hormones (T₃, T₄), glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Reproductive stage significantly influenced endocrine and metabolic dynamics, with cortisol and NEFA peaking at parturition (p < 0.001). Supplemented groups, particularly LPP, showed higher T₃ concentrations (p < 0.05) and T₃/T₄ ratios (p < 0.01). The L diet maintained higher insulin during lactation (p < 0.05), while LPP lowered leptin at parturition (p < 0.01) and NEFA at insemination (p < 0.01), indicating an early decrease in lipid mobilization. Multivariate analysis suggested that n-3 PUFA supplementation promoted an endocrine profile characterized by enhanced thyroid activity and reduced lipid mobilization, consistent with a potentially favorable metabolic shift. In conclusion, enriching diets with n-3 PUFA, especially linseed combined with Padina pavonica extract, represents a promising nutritional strategy to support rabbit does during the highly demanding phases of their first reproductive cycle.
SN - 0165-2176
SN - 1875-5941
ER -