Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid affect ovarian prostaglandin levels differently in rats.

Prostaglandins (PGs) play a key role in the regulation of ovulation. Typically, ingestion of the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been found to decrease, whereas arachidonic acid (ARA) increases PG biosynthesis in most systems. We hypothesized that DHA and EPA would decrease ovarian PGE(2), enhancing ovulation, with combined EPA and DHA having the greatest effect, whereas ARA would increase PGE(2), suppressing ovulation.