Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) regulates female reproduction via sex pheromone regulation without affecting larval development in Drosophila melanogaster

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) regulates female reproduction via sex pheromone regulation without affecting larval development in Drosophila melanogaster

Knowledge on the potential role of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on reproduction and development is currently limited. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to determine the effects of CLA on reproduction and development using the Drosophila model. In this study, adult and larva Drosophila melanogaster were fed fly food with 0.5% water (blank), CLA (50:50 of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 CLA isomers in triglyceride form) or safflower oil (69% linoleic acid, LA, as control) to examine the effects of CLA on fecundity, sex pheromones, transcription level of oogenesis, larval body composition, and eclosion time. CLA-treated females had lowered brood size without changes in hatchability, along with decreased 7,11-heptacosadiene and 7,11-nonacosadiene, the principle female pheromones, when compared to LA and blank. Moreover, CLA reduced transcription level of lipid storage droplet-2 (lsd-2) compared to LA. CLA did not influence larval composition nor eclosion time. In conclusion, CLA inhibited reproduction capability in D. melanogaster in part via reduced fatty acid-derived signaling pheromone and oogenesis modulations. As key biological processes are conserved between humans and flies, knowledge from this research may provide valuable insight into reproduction and development responses to CLA.