Abstract
BackgroundNatural astaxanthin (ASTA) has strong antioxidant properties and has been widely used as a health product to improve human health. However, the effects of ASTA on the reproductive performance of aging roosters have been poorly studied. We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on semen quality and antioxidant capacity in aging roosters and to explore the potential mechanism of semen quality change via anti-oxidation defense system.MethodsIn the present study, 96 53-week-old Jinghong No. 1 layer breeder roosters were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg ASTA for 6 weeks.ResultsSemen quality in the ASTA groups remarkably improved than that in the control group, and antioxidant activities, the abilities to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, increased gradually with ASTA addition (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as the mRNA and protein levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were markedly increased in the 50–100 mg/kg ASTA group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsCollectively, these results demonstrate that dietary ASTA may improve semen quality by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, which may be related to upregulation of the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway.
Highlights
In poultry production, assisted reproductive technology such as artificial insemination is widely used
We evaluated the effects of dietary ASTA on semen quality in aging roosters (Tables 4, 5)
Our results revealed that dietary ASTA elevated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation (p38, extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK), JNK), and the mRNA and protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were remarkably enhanced by adding 50 mg/kg ASTA in the diets, which was in agreement with a previous study [56]
Summary
In poultry production, assisted reproductive technology such as artificial insemination is widely used. The reproductive performance of roosters is a key factor in production. ASTA can be extracted from algae [8], yeast [9], fish, krill, and some microorganisms [10]. There is little information on whether ASTA can improve the male reproductive performance. Natural astaxanthin (ASTA) has strong antioxidant properties and has been widely used as a health product to improve human health. The effects of ASTA on the reproductive performance of aging roosters have been poorly studied. We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on semen quality and antioxidant capacity in aging roosters and to explore the potential mechanism of semen quality change via antioxidation defense system
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