The past three decades revolutionized the goose industry in the world. China holds the world’s largest goose breeds stock by 95% of the global total. To optimize the goose industry and cope with ever increasing poultry meat and egg demands, there is a dire need to focus on reproduction, as most geese breeds exhibit poor reproductive performance. The present study was conducted with the aim to add a contribution in the goose industry and research by the histological visualizing step wise development of germ cells during spermatogenesis by microscopy and a histological technique. Yangzhou goose is a synthetic breed developed by using local goose germplasm resources of China. It is popular in the Chinese goose industry due to high productivity and adaptability. This research evaluated the steps of spermiogenesis and stages along with morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium in Yangzhou goose ganders. For the assessment of various stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, testis sections were embedded in molten paraffin wax. The initial steps of spermiogenesis were depicted by changes in acrosomic granules, whereas further stages were identified by nuclear morphological changes. Ten steps of spermiogenesis and nine stages of seminiferous epithelium were identified. Four types of spermatogonia Ad, Ap1, Ap2 and B were recognized. The results depicted a clear variation in the diameter of seminiferous tubules (ST), epithelium height (EH), luminal tubular diameter (LD), number of seminiferous tubules per field and the Johnsen score. Microscopy indicated that the stages of seminiferous epithelium were similar to other birds and mammals and the ST diameter, EH, LD and Johnsen score are positively correlated while the number of seminiferous tubules per field is negatively correlated with the ST diameter, EH, LD and Johnsen score. Fertility in Yangzhou ganders can further be improved by visualizing the histological development of germs cells in testis tissues during spermatogenesis after onset of breeding season and maturity. Our results suggest that Yangzhou ganders reach complete sexual maturity at 227 days of age.

Simple SummaryThe search for effective medicines is challenging. Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, and its function remains unelucidated. Therefore, we undertook the present study to investigate reproductive disturbances due to restraint stress in mice and whether resveratrol plays an anti-stress role. Our results confirmed that resveratrol plays a potential role in the reduction of stress in mice. AbstractWe evaluated immobilization stress and resveratrol supplementation in immature male mice at 30 days of age for 15 consecutive days. Fifty Swiss mice were divided into five groups (10 mice each): Controls, restraint stress (RS), restraint stress + vehicle (RS + V), RS + 2 mg/kg, and RS + 20 mg/kg. We determined results on the basis of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), “Periodic acid-Schiff” staining, and TUNEL assay. The results indicated that immobilization stress significantly decreased body weight, testis weight, and water/food intake compared to the control; while resveratrol ameliorated these effects. The quantitative histologic evaluation of the seminiferous tubule diameter, luminal diameter, area of seminiferous tubules, area of tubule lumen, epithelial height, Leydig cell number, and the width of the tunica albuginea were similarly decreased after exposure to RS. These parameters recovered back to normal in the RS + 2 mg/kg group. The development of spermatogenesis was significantly delayed in the RS, RS + V, and RS + 20 mg groups based upon our evaluation score system. However, we observed no significant differences in the RS + 2 mg group compared with the control group. The number of TUNEL-positive cells also significantly decreased in the RS + 2 mg/kg group. In conclusion, we found that the administration of 2 mg/kg was an effective dose against immobilization stress in mice.

Simple SummaryThe current project was designed to examine the effects of restraint stress on body weights, food and water consumption, and pathophysiology of the stomach and spleen in adult mice, and potential roles of the phenolic compound resveratrol during treatment. We found that restraint stress (which is known to be a mixture of psychologic and physical stress) caused a reduction in body weight, food and water consumption, and morphologic changes in the stomach and spleen, which could lead to gastritis or ulcers and splenomegaly, while treatment with resveratrol prevented the negative alterations to the stomach and spleen.AbstractThe objectives were to investigate whether restraint stress (which is known as a mixture of psychologic and physical stress) exerts negative effects on the stomach and spleen, and whether the phenolic compound resveratrol (RES) exerts any protective roles. Fifty adult male mice were divided into five groups, with 10 mice per group as follows: control (C), restraint stress (RS), RS with vehicle (RS + V), RS with 2 mg/kg of resveratrol (RS + 2 mg RES), and RS with 20 mg/kg of resveratrol (RS + 20 mg RES). Mice were restrained in conical centrifuge tubes for 4 h daily to establish the RS model. RS + 2 mg RES, RS + 20 mg RES, and RS + V groups were given an oral dose of resveratrol or vehicle for 15 consecutive days, while the control group was not exposed to restraint stress. Herein, we showed that restraint stress decreased body weight and food and water consumption in stressed groups RS and RS + V compared to controls, while the groups treated with resveratrol showed improvements. Moreover, restraint stress caused acute damage to the morphology of gastric cells and reduced the quantitative distribution of parietal cells along with their decreased size and diameter, pointing to gastritis or ulcer. Furthermore, the antibody against the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was highly attached in the RS groups. Splenic size, weight, and length were also greatly augmented in the stressed groups compared to the controls, while these phenomena were not observed in the RS + 2 mg RES group. Our findings proved significant ameliorating effects of resveratrol against restraint stress in adult male mice.

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The effects of saccharin, as a type of sweetener additive, on the metabolism and development of mammals are still controversial. Our previous research revealed that saccharin sodium (SS) promoted the feed intake and growth of guinea pigs. In this experiment, we used the guinea pig model to study the physiological effect of SS in the microbiota–gut–hypothalamus axis. Adding 1.5 mM SS to drinking water increased the serum level of glucose, followed by the improvement in the morphology and barrier function of the ileal villus, such as SS supplementation which increased the villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio. Saccharin sodium (SS) treatment activated the sweet receptor signaling in the ileum and altered GHRP hormone secretion. In the hypothalamus of SS and control (CN) group, RNA-seq identified 1370 differently expressed genes (796 upregulated, 574 downregulated), enriching into the taste signaling transduction, and neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction. LEfSe analysis suggested that Lactobacillaceae-Lactobacillus was the microbe with significantly increased abundance of ileum microorganisms in the SS-treated group, while Brevinema-Andersonii and Erysipelotrichaceae-Ilebacterium were the microbes with significantly increased abundance of the control. Furthermore, SS treatment significantly enhanced the functions of chemoheterotrophy and fermentation of ileal microflora compared to the CN group. Accordingly, SS treatment increased levels of lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (acetic acid, propionic acid and N-valeric acid) in the ileal digesta. In summary, drinking water with 1.5 mM SS activated sweet receptor signaling in the gut and altered GHRP hormone secretion, followed by the taste signaling transduction in the hypothalamus.

Sexual hormones are essential for the process of spermatogenesis in the testis. However, the effect of maternal genistein (GEN) on the pups’ testicular development remain-unclear. Our present study evaluated the effects of supplementing GEN for parental and offspring mice on the reproductive function and growth performance of the male pups. Mothers during gestation and lactation period were assigned to a control diet (CON group), low dose GEN (LGE group) diet (control diet +40 mg/kg GEN), and high dose of GEN (HGE group) diet (control diet +800 mg/kg GEN). Their male offspring underwent the same treatment of GEN after weaning. LGE treatment (40 mg/kg GEN) significantly increased body weights (p < 0.001), testes weights (p < 0.05), diameters of seminiferous tubule (p < 0.001) and heights of seminiferous epithelium (p < 0.05) of offspring mice. LGE treatment also increased serum testosterone (T) levels and spermatogenesis scoring (p < 0.05). However, HGE treatment (800mg/kg GEN) significantly decreased body weights (p < 0.001), testes weights (p < 0.05) and testis sizes (p < 0.001). Furthermore, mRNA expressions of ESR2 (p < 0.05), CYP19A1 (p < 0.001), SOX9 (p < 0.001) and BRD7 (p < 0.001) in testis of mice were increased in the LGE group. Similarly, HGE treatment increased mRNA expressions of ESR2 (p < 0.05) and CYP19A1 (p < 0.001). However, mRNA expressions of SOX9 and BRD7 were decreased significantly in the HGE group (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, higher ratio apoptotic germ cells and abnormal sperms were detected in the HGE group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, exposure to a low dose of GEN during fetal and neonatal life could improve testicular development of offspring mice, whereas, unfavorable adverse effects were induced by a high dose of GEN.

Our present study was designed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol (RES) in Swiss mice by exposing them to prenatal stress. Twenty-four Swiss mice were divided into four groups: control (C), maternal restraint stress (MRS), maternal restraint stress + resveratrol (MRS + RES) 2 mg, and maternal restraint stress + resveratrol (MRS + RES) 20 mg. Dams were exposed to stress by restraint in plastic tubes for four hours a day from 12–18 days of gestation. The results showed that male pups of MRS were significantly decreased in the testis weight, anogenital distance, area of seminiferous tubules, diameter of seminiferous tubules, area of the lumen, diameter of the lumen, and epithelial height of seminiferous tubules. However, the anomalies of the reproductive tract produced under restraint stress were neutralized by the use of RES 2 mg/kg. A significant difference was observed between terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)- positive germ cells in MRS and MRS + RES 20 mg/kg groups, while it was non-significant between MRS + RES 2 mg/kg and C groups. Apart from these effects, blood glucose levels were increased in MRS and MRS + RES 20 mg/kg groups, while experimental animals of the MRS + RES 2 mg/kg group significantly recovered. These results suggested that a lower dose of RES could cure the adverse effects of prenatal stress in early age male progeny. Thus, our study suggests, for the first time, practical values for a lower dose of RES 2 mg/kg as a safe and effective agent in the first week age of prenatally stressed mice.