85 What Does the Vaginal Lipidome Tell Us?

Abstract

Abstract Increasing reproductive efficiency in the breeding herd is a fundamental goal of modern swine production systems that depends on a multitude of factors, some of which begin at or before birth. Of particular interest, previous research has identified a link between colostrum consumption in the first 24h of the piglet’s life with survival, growth, and fertility through adulthood. Thus, the ingestion of colostrum appears to set the developmental trajectory of health and fertility in swine. However, the mechanism that link colostrum to long-term growth, health and fertility are not fully understood. Exploratory analysis of vaginal lipidome collected from three-week-old neonates that were followed prospectively to determine fertility found infertile sows had lower levels of arachidonic acid (AHA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and a greater abundance of two very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA: cerotic and ximenic). We surmise that AHA and DHA are markers of colostrum intake as additional studies found that AHA was increased in vaginal lipidome of gilts that consumed colostrum versus being fed milk replacer. We also surmise that high levels of VLCFA in the infertile animals was indicative of a buildup of these fatty acids in the tissue, similar to individuals with peroxisomal disorders with resulting alterations in lipid homeostasis linked to infertility. Taken together, our hypothesis is that differing levels of colostrum intake stimulate differing rates of peroxisomal biogenesis in neonates which in turn affects the development of the reproductive system and long-term fertility.