Effect of maternal melatonin supplementation during mid to late gestation on fatty acid composition in maternal and fetal plasma and perirenal adipose tissue collected from bovine fetuses at 240 days of gestation

Melatonin supplementation during mid to late gestation increases uterine blood flow, thereby altering the flux of nutrients delivered to the developing fetus by the dam. Changes in the amount and composition of fatty acids available to the fetus can alter the long-term growth and developmental potential of the offspring in postnatal life. Here, an abstract of an article by McCarthy et al on determining the effect of supplementing melatonin to beef heifers during mid to late gestation on fatty acid composition of maternal, umbilical, and fetal plasma as well as fetal perirenal adipose tissue is presented.