Commensal Lactobacilli Enhance Sperm Qualitative Parameters in Dogs

Abstract

Although several methods have been developed to improve male fertility and sperm quality, subfertility remains a primary clinical issue in male reproduction worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the oral administration of three commensal Lactobacillus spp. on healthy normozoospermic dogs and the qualitative parameters of their sperm. Three weeks of supplementation induced a significant decrease of two phyla, Proteobacteria and Tenericutes, and an increase of phylum Firmicutes. At the species level, the number of Fusobacterium perfoetens and Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens decreased, while Limosilactobacillus reuteri increased. Parallel to these results, qualitative sperm parameters such as total and progressive motility, acrosome integrity, and other kinematic parameters were significantly enhanced after commensal lactobacilli supplementation. In addition, we showed that Firmicutes were positively correlated with sperm qualitative parameters, while Proteobacteria, F. perfoetens, and A. succiniciproducens were negatively correlated. Considering the similarities between the gut microbiome of dogs and humans, these results provide more insight into how gut microbiota regulation could improve male sperm quality in both species.

Evaluation of probiotic properties of a Brevibacillus laterosporus strain

“…Several studies had shown that some probiotics had a beneficial effect on the reproductive function of the body. Mahiddine 91 found that supplementation with Lactobacillus spp. in dogs improved the viability of sperm and the integrity of acrosome, which may be related to the gut microbiota and testis‐pituitary axis 92 …”