Arginine promotes testicular development in boars through nitric oxide and putrescine.

Dongqin Wei,Jian Li,Wenxian Zeng,De Wu,Lianqiang Che,Shengyu Xu,Bin Feng,Yan Lin,Zhengfeng Fang,Caimei Wu,Junjie Zhang,Yong Zhuo

doi:10.1111/jpn.13602

Abstract

The present work aimed to explore the influence and underlying mechanisms involving arginine in testicular development in boars. To this end, thirty 30-day-old male Duroc piglets (7.00±0.30kg) were randomly sorted into two groups, maintained on either a basal diet (CON, n=15) or a diet supplemented with 0.8% arginine (ARG, n=15). Blood and testicular samples were collected during the experimental period to analyse amino acid composition and arginine metabolite levels. The results showed that dietary supplementation with arginine increased number of spermatogonia and height of the seminiferous epithelium (p<0.05). Sperm density, total number and effective number of sperm of the boars in the ARG group increased significantly compared with those in the CON group (p<0.05). Although arginine supplementation did not affect plasma amino acid levels, testicular arginine levels in 150-day-old boars exhibited a significant increase (p<0.05). The level of serum nitric oxide (NO) and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) also increased in 150-day-old boars in the ARG group (p<0.05). Interestingly, dietary supplementation with arginine increased testicular levels of putrescine in 150-day-old boars (p<0.05). These results indicated that arginine supplementation increased serum NO levels and testicular arginine and putrescine abundance, thereby improving testicular development and semen quality in boars.

Highlights

The present work aimed to explore the influence of arginine on testicular development in boars and the underlying mechanism
These results indicate that arginine has a positive influence on semen quality; the role of arginine in the testicular development process remains unclear
The testicular weight was higher in the 150-day-old boars in the ARG group than in the control group ARG (CON) group (Table 4, P < 0.05), there was no significant differences in the testicular index (P > 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

The present work aimed to explore the influence of arginine on testicular development in boars and the underlying mechanism. Testicular development in boars determines the onset of sexual maturity and subsequent quality of semen [1]. Diets supplemented with 0.8 % L-arginine has led to significant improvements in the quality and antioxidant capacity of boar semen [5]. Ren et al have reported higher total sperm number, acrosome integrity ratio, and effective total sperm number in boars raised on an argininesupplemented diet [6]. These results indicate that arginine has a positive influence on semen quality; the role of arginine in the testicular development process remains unclear

Methods

Results

Conclusion