Metabolic Diseases - Do We Really Know if They Affect Reproduction?

Abstract
Conditions affecting metabolism (including endocrine dysfunction) intuitively have wide-ranging effects on potentially all body functions. In many species metabolic and endocrinological changes have been proven to have significant effects on female reproductive processes, with ovarian activity, establishment of pregnancy, pregnancy maintenance to term and the overall health of the fetus impaired. Effects on the reproductive competence of the male are also known to occur. With respect to the conceptus itself, life-long alterations in metabolic processes are found in the offspring of affected females when compared to non-affected cohorts. The presence of insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia and the subsequent generation of a chronic proinflammatory state appears to be the genesis of these problems. In horses details regarding the effects of metabolic and endocrine dysfunction on reproductive competence remains largely unknown however potential for alteration can be inferred due to similarities in reproductive physiology between species. Clinical observations of individuals support the likelihood of metabolic and endocrine dysfunction detrimentally affecting equine reproductive efficiency. [...]