Effects of N‐Acetylcysteine on the reproductive performance, oxidative stress and RNA sequencing of Nubian goats

Abstract

N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) has been found to enhance the protective ability of cells to counter balance oxidative stress and inflammation. To investigate the effects of dietary NAC supplementation on the reproductive performance of goats, the reproductive performance and endometrial transcriptome of goats fed with diets with NAC (NAC group) and without NAC supplementation (control group) were compared. Results showed that the goats fed with 0.03% and 0.05% NAC had similar litter size, birth weight, nitric oxide (NO), sex hormones and amino acids levels compared with the goats of the control group. However, feeding with 0.07% NAC supplementation from day 0 to day 30 of gestation remarkably increased the litter size of goats. The goats of the 0.07% NAC group presented increased levels of NO relative to the control group, but their sex hormones and amino acids showed no differences. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 207 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the endometrium between the control and the 0.07% NAC groups. These DEGs included 146 upregulated genes and 61 downregulated genes in the 0.07% NAC group. They were primarily involved in the cellular response to toxic substances, oxidoreductase activity, immune receptor activity, signalling receptor binding, cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions, PI3K‐Akt signalling pathway and PPAR signalling pathway. In conclusion, results showed that dietary 0.07% NAC supplementation exerted a beneficial effect on the survival of goat embryos at the early pregnancy stage. Such positive outcome might be due to the increased NO production and affected expression of genes involved in the anti‐inflammation pathways of the endometrium.

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

“…Our preliminary data suggest that NAC can increase the conception rate of Qianbei Ma goats. In a previous study with Nubian goats, we found that NAC significantly increases the litter size [ 22 ]. However, our available data suggest that NAC can increase the litter size of Qianbei Ma goats, but the increase is not significant.…”

“…The number of embryos in the euthanized goats was recorded. To ensure consistency with previous work, the experimental goats were fed a previously described basal diet [ 22 ]. Specific information is provided in Table 1 .…”

“…In addition, NAC improves production performance, reproductive performance, antioxidant status, immunity, and the delivery of maternal antibodies in Japanese quail under heat stress conditions [ 21 ]. In a previous study with Nubian goats, we found that different concentrations of NAC increase the lambing numbers of Nubian goats and that 0.07% NAC has the most significant effect [ 22 ]. In summary, we found that NAC plays an important role in the modulation of animal reproductive performance, but the molecular mechanisms through which NAC regulates reproductive performance in the goat uterus during early gestation are unclear.…”

N ‐acetyl cysteine co‐treatment abates perfluorooctanoic acid‐induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

“…The protective effect elicited by NAC is due to NAC antioxidant capacity replenishing cellular glutathione stores and modulation of intracellular molecular signalling pathways involved in inflammatory responses. Evidence in the literature suggests that NAC anti‐inflammatory roles are incumbent on inhibiting pro‐inflammatory cytokine synthesis (Jarazo Dietrich et al., 2015; Luo et al., 2020; Wang, Guo, et al., 2020; Zheng et al., 2019) and suppression of the NF‐kB signalling pathways (Guo et al., 2018). Besides, via several molecular pathways, NAC balances tissue redox homeostasis and averts oxidative stress (Colasuonno et al., 2020; Ghafarizadeh et al., 2020; Kazaz et al., 2019; Navaratnarajah et al., 2020; Turkmen et al., 2019) that can cause cell membrane damage and impact sperm integrity and function.…”

“…Administration of NAC mitigated the effect of PFOA in reducing the serum concentration of reproductive hormones. Figure 10 depicts the plausible mechanistic pathway by which NAC abates the Dietrich et al, 2015;Luo et al, 2020;Wang, Guo, et al, 2020;Zheng et al, 2019) and suppression of the NF-kB signalling pathways (Guo et al, 2018). Besides, via several molecular pathways, NAC balances tissue redox homeostasis and averts oxidative stress (Colasuonno et al, 2020;Ghafarizadeh et al, 2020;Kazaz et al, 2019;Navaratnarajah et al, 2020;Turkmen et al, 2019) that can cause cell membrane damage and impact sperm integrity and function.…”