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Impact of Dietary Probiotics on the Immune and Reproductive Physiology of Pubertal Male Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Administered at the Onset of Pre-Puberty

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Abstract

Fertility in males is dependent on the proper production of sperms involving the synchronization of numerous factors like oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and hormonal regulation. Inflammation associated with oxidative stress is also known to impair sperm function. Nutritional factors like probiotics and prebiotics have the potential benefits to modulate these factors which may enhance male fertility. In the present study, immature male Japanese quail at the beginning of 3rd week were administered with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L), Bifidobacterium longum (B), and mannan-oligosaccharides (M) through dietary supplementation in individual groups as well as in combinations like LB and MLB. Markers of oxidative stress including SOD and catalase were examined by native PAGE; inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL-10, and NFκB), apoptotic markers (caspase 3 and caspase 7), steroidal hormones, and their receptors estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) were assessed in testis. The study reveals that dietary supplementation of 1% L, B, and M in combination significantly and positively increases the overall growth of immature male quail specifically testicular weight and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Furthermore, significant improvement in testicular cell size; increased steroidal hormones like testosterone, FSH, and LH levels; increase in SOD, catalase enzymes; decrease in apoptotic factors Caspase 3, Caspase 7 and immune system strength observed indicated by a decrease in expression of IL-1β, NFκB; and increase of IL-10 in testis when LBM was used in combination. These variations are attributed to the increase in testicular estrogen receptors alpha and beta, facilitated by the neuroendocrine gonadal axis, ultimately leading to improved male fertility. It can be concluded that the dietary supplementation in combination with L, B, and M enhances male fertility in immature quail by increased expression of estrogen receptors via gut microbiota modulation. It also sheds light on the potential use of these nutritional factors in avian species as therapeutic interventions to overcome low fertility problems in quail thereby benefitting the poultry industry.

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The data supporting the results reported in the paper can be assessed and it includes the original data generated in the research.

Abbreviations

GSI:

Gonadosomatic index

ART:

Assisted reproductive technologies

FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

MOS:

Mannan-oligosaccharides

SCFAs:

Short chain fatty acids

ERα:

Estrogen receptors alpha

ERβ:

Estrogen receptors beta

GIT:

Gastrointestinal tract

IL:

Interleukin

Cfu:

Colony forming unit

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

OD:

Optical density

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

LPO:

Lipid peroxidation

AOPP:

Advanced oxidation protein product

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

GSH:

Total glutathione

SDS:

Sodium dodecyl sulphate

PAGE:

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

PVDF:

Polyvinylidene difluoride

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank DST-FIST sponsored Department of Zoology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar (M.P.), India, for providing infrastructure and instrumentation facility and University Grant Commission, India, for providing financial support as non-NET research fellowship to Aamir Khan. The authors also thank Unique Biotech Limited (UBL), Hyderabad, India, for providing probiotic strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Avian Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India

    Aamir Khan

  2. Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, 470003, India

    Naveen Kango

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, U.P., 211002, India

    Rashmi Srivastava

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  1. Aamir Khan
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  2. Naveen Kango
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  3. Rashmi Srivastava
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AK: Writing- original draft, methodology and formal analysis; NK- Review & editing; RS: Conceptualization, visualization, editing and supervision.

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Correspondence to Rashmi Srivastava.

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Khan, A., Kango, N. & Srivastava, R. Impact of Dietary Probiotics on the Immune and Reproductive Physiology of Pubertal Male Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Administered at the Onset of Pre-Puberty. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-023-10209-9

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