Effects of N Acetylcysteine on the Expression of Genes Associated with Reproductive Performance in the Goat Uterus during Early Gestation

Abstract

N acetylcysteine (NAC) affects antioxidation and reactive oxygen species scavenging in the body and thereby promotes embryonic development and implantation and inhibits inflammation. The mechanism through which NAC regulates reproductive performance in the uteri of goats during early gestation remains unclear. In this study, the treatment group was fed 0.07% NAC for the first 35 days of gestation, whereas the control group received no NAC supplementation. The regulatory genes and key pathways associated with goat reproductive performance under NAC supplementation were identified by RNA-seq. RT–qPCR was used to verify the sequencing results and subsequently construct tissue expression profiles of the relevant genes. RNA-seq identified 19,796 genes coexpressed in the control and treatment groups and 1318 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 787 and 531 DEGs enriched in the treatment and control groups, respectively. A GO analysis revealed that the identified genes mapped to pathways such as cell activation, cytokine production, cell mitotic processes, and angiogenesis, and a KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched in pathways associated with reproductive regulation, immune regulation, resistance to oxidative stress, and cell adhesion. The RT–qPCR analysis showed that BDNF and CSF-1 were most highly expressed in the uterus, that WIF1 and ESR2 showed low expression in the uterus, and that CTSS, PTX3, and TGFβ-3 were most highly expressed in the oviduct, which indicated that these genes may be directly or indirectly involved in the modulation of reproduction in early-gestation goats. These findings provide fundamental data for the NAC-mediated modulation of the reproductive performance of goats during early gestation.

Advancements in Understanding and Enhancing Antioxidant-Mediated Sperm Cryopreservation in Small Ruminants: Challenges and Perspectives

“…As such, the inclusion of NAC and LC holds promise for improving sperm function within cryopreservation media, offering potential avenues for enhancing the success of assisted reproductive technologies [82]. In animal studies, the effects of NAC and LC are relatively understudied; however, there are research investigations that have demonstrated their beneficial effects in improving reproductive function and seminal characteristics following dilution and preservation [84][85][86]. In small ruminants, it was reported that moderate concentrations of NAC, such as 0.5 mM and lower, incorporated into skim milk-based extenders, offer a protective mechanism for ram sperm cells against OS without adversely affecting the freezability of ram semen (Table 1); conversely, higher concentrations of NAC, specifically at 0.75 mM and above, particularly when utilized with milk-based extenders, may exhibit some deleterious effects on the freezability of ram semen [87].…”

Effect of CTSS non-synonymous mutations on litter size in Qianbei Ma goats

“…The activity of this gene is also closely associated with fibronectin degradation and obesity ( 10 ). CTSS regulates the secretion of progesterone and estradiol and the proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells in rabbits and is closely related to the regulation of early gestation in goats ( 11 , 12 ). However, the mechanism underlying the effect of CTSS on litter size in goats is unclear.…”