Zhao Depeng, Shi Yushi, Long Xia, Tan Qisong, Yang Jinlin, Li Hui
Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the PlateauMountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Breeding and Breeding, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.
PLoS One. 2025 May 9;20(5):e0322853. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322853. eCollection 2025.
Oxidative stress is a major cause of semen quality decline in old roosters. Dendrobium nobile Lindl (DNL), a Chinese herbal medicine, exhibits excellent antioxidant activity. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary DNL supplementation on semen quality, antioxidant capacity, reproductive hormone levels, and testicular tissue structure in aged roosters. This study further aimed to elucidate the potential mechanism for improving reproductive performance. Thus, the expression of antioxidant defense system-related genes was verified, and metabolomic analysis was performed. Twenty 56-week-old recessive, white-feathered roosters were randomly assigned into two groups. The DNL group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 2500 mg/kg DNL for 60 days, whereas the control group was fed a basal diet. Here, DNL improved the semen quality (sperm density and motility) and antioxidant capacity of aged roosters, increased the expression of genes in the Nrf2 pathway, increased serum hormone levels, and delayed testicular tissue degradation. Seventy-six differential metabolites that are mainly enriched in amino acid biosynthesis pathways, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism were identified. DL-serine, DL-cysteine, and α-ketoglutarate were related to improved testicular antioxidant capacity. In this study, dietary supplementation with 2500 mg/kg DNL delayed the decline in reproductive performance by improving the antioxidant capacity of aging roosters. These findings could facilitate the use of DNL as a feed additive to improve the reproductive performance of aged roosters.
氧化应激是老年公鸡精液质量下降的主要原因。中药铁皮石斛（DNL）具有出色的抗氧化活性。因此，本研究旨在探讨日粮添加DNL对老年公鸡精液质量、抗氧化能力、生殖激素水平和睾丸组织结构的影响。本研究还旨在阐明改善生殖性能的潜在机制。因此，验证了抗氧化防御系统相关基因的表达，并进行了代谢组学分析。将20只56周龄的隐性白羽公鸡随机分为两组。DNL组饲喂添加2500 mg/kg DNL的基础日粮60天，而对照组饲喂基础日粮。在此，DNL改善了老年公鸡的精液质量（精子密度和活力）和抗氧化能力，增加了Nrf2途径中基因的表达，提高了血清激素水平，并延缓了睾丸组织退化。鉴定出76种差异代谢物，主要富集在氨基酸生物合成途径、牛磺酸和亚牛磺酸代谢以及半胱氨酸和蛋氨酸代谢中。DL-丝氨酸、DL-半胱氨酸和α-酮戊二酸与改善睾丸抗氧化能力有关。在本研究中，日粮添加2500 mg/kg DNL通过提高老龄公鸡的抗氧化能力延缓了生殖性能的下降。这些发现有助于将DNL用作饲料添加剂来提高老龄公鸡的生殖性能。
