Abstract

Genetic selection in parental broiler breeders has increased their susceptibility to metabolic disorders and reproductive dysfunction. We have recently shown that maternal dietary grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation in hens improves fertility parameters, egg quality, oxidative stress in different tissues and the quality of F1 chicks. Here, we analysed the growth and fertility (both female and male) of the F1 generation animals and the quality of their offspring (F2 generation). Eggs issued from hens supplemented with GSE presented lower ROS production than control hens, suggesting a change in the embryonic environment. However, this did not affect the growth nor the body composition of male and female F1s from hatching to adulthood (37 weeks of age). At 37 weeks of age, the biochemistry analysis of the GSE-F1 muscle has revealed an increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress and a slight change in lipid composition. Both male and female F1-GSE groups presented a delay in puberty with a lower testis volume at 30 weeks of age and lower ovary development at 26 weeks of age. Adult GSE-F1 males did not present histological alterations of seminiferous tubules or semen production, but the semen quality was degraded due to higher oxidative stress and DNA-damaged spermatozoa compared with control F1 animals. In adult GSE-F1 females, despite the delay in puberty, the females laid more eggs of better quality (fewer broken eggs and a higher hatching rate). At hatching, the weight of the chicks from GSE-F1 females was reduced, and this effect was stronger in F2 male chicks (F2) compared with F2 control chicks (F2), because of the lower muscle volume. In conclusion, we can raise the hypothesis that maternal dietary GSE supplementation produces eggs with change in embryonic metabolism, which may affect in adulthood the fertility. The data obtained from the F1-GSE group pointed to a sex-specific modification with higher egg quality in females but semen sensitive to stress in males. Finally, male F2 chicks were leaner than control chicks. Thus, maternal dietary grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation in hens may impact on the fertility of the offspring in a sex-specific manner in subsequent generations.

Highlights

  • Since the 1960s, the production of broilers has changed via intentional genetic selection to improve meat yield [1, 2]

  • The content of fertilized eggs from mothers who received a diet enriched with 1% grape seed extract (GSE) showed lower reactive oxygen species production than eggs from control mothers

  • The level of fattening measured by CT scan was similar except at 37 weeks of age, during the laying period, with a lower percentage of fat in F1-GSE females (Fig 1C, p < 0.001)

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Summary

Introduction

Since the 1960s, the production of broilers has changed via intentional genetic selection to improve meat yield [1, 2]. In 2017, broiler meat production took first place in the world, with 118 million tons produced against 117 million of tons of pork, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). This choice of genetic manipulation to improve meat yield was accompanied by impaired cardiac performance, stress resistance, immunity and reproduction [3,4,5,6]. In order to improve fertility, dietary supplementation strategies with antioxidants have been used

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