High-fat diet exposure, regardless of the induction of obesity, is associated with altered expression of genes critical for normal ovarian function. Mus musculus

High-fat diet (HFD) induces diminished ovarian reserve and subfertility in female mice, irrespective of obesity. To further assess the impact of HFD on ovarian function, female mice were fed a 60% HFD or standard chow for 10 weeks and then HFD fed mice were separated into obese (HFOB) and lean (HFLN) groups. RNA-sequencing of whole ovaries identified multiple differentially expressed genes involved in normal ovarian function (ovulation, luteinization, luteolysis) in both the HFLN and HFOB mice compared to the chow fed mice (q<0.05). Taken together, elevated dietary fat intake, regardless of obesity, is associated with impaired estrous cycles and altered expression of genes critical to normal ovulatory function. Overall design: RNA-sequencing was performed on ovarian RNA after 10 weeks of HFD feeding. Three groups were assessed, those that became obese after HFD (HFOB), those that remained lean after HFD (HFLN) and controls fed chow for 10 weeks. Three animals in each group were used for RNA-sequencing.