Dietary Short-Chain Fatty Acids Supplementation Improves Reproductive Performance and Gut Microbiota in Gilts.

IF 3.7 3区医学 Q2 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Journal of Nutrition Pub Date : 2025-02-19 DOI:10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.02.012

Baoyang Xu, Wenxia Qin, Yuwen Chen, Juncheng Huang, Libao Ma, Xianghua Yan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have emerged as critical modulators of female reproductive function and host gut microbiota.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary SCFAs supplementation on reproductive performance and gut microbiota in gilts, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Eighty gilts (95 d old) were randomly assigned to either a control group (Ctrl, 40 gilts) receiving a basal diet, or a SCFAs treatment group (SCFAs, 40 gilts) receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0.13% sodium acetate, 0.11% sodium propionate, and 0.09% sodium butyrate. At third estrus, 13 gilts (6 from Ctrl and 7 from SCFAs) were killed for follicular development and gut microbiota analysis, whereas the remaining gilts completed gestation for reproductive performance assessment.

Results: SCFAs group had higher total number born (11.97 compared with 9.44) and total number born alive (11.28 compared with 9.34) compared with Ctrl group (P < 0.05). SCFAs group had increased counts of secondary follicles (36.14 compared with 26.83), antral follicles (10.29 compared with 6.67), and corpus luteum (25.09 compared with 19.33), alongside had reduced atretic follicles (15.32 compared with 20.67) compared with Ctrl group (P < 0.05). Proteomic analysis revealed that SCFAs-induced differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were significantly enriched in the follicular development-related pathways (P < 0.05). Apoptosis-related DEPs positively correlated with follicular development indices (P < 0.05), consistent with the reduced apoptosis observed in ovarian granulosa cells of the SCFAs group. Additionally, SCFAs supplementation improved both the composition and alpha-diversity (P < 0.05) of gilts' gut microbiota. Furthermore, both the SCFAs-enriched bacteria and plasma SCFAs concentrations showed positive associations with gilts' follicular development indices (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Dietary SCFAs supplementation enhances reproductive performance in gilts by promoting ovarian follicular maturation and optimizing gut microbiota composition.

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来源期刊

Journal of Nutrition 医学-营养学

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

4.80%

发文量

260

审稿时长

39 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Nutrition (JN/J Nutr) publishes peer-reviewed original research papers covering all aspects of experimental nutrition in humans and other animal species; special articles such as reviews and biographies of prominent nutrition scientists; and issues, opinions, and commentaries on controversial issues in nutrition. Supplements are frequently published to provide extended discussion of topics of special interest.