Maternal dietary supplementation with grape seed extract in reproductive hens increases fertility in females but decreases semen quality in males of the F1 generation

Abstract

Genetic selection in parental broiler breeders has increased their susceptibility to metabolic disorders and reproductive dysfunction. We have recently shown that maternal dietary grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation in hens improves fertility parameters, egg quality, oxidative stress in different tissues and the quality of F1 chicks. Here, we analysed the growth and fertility (both female and male) of the F1 generation animals and the quality of their offspring (F2 generation). Eggs issued from hens supplemented with GSE presented lower ROS production than control hens, suggesting a change in the embryonic environment. However, this did not affect the growth nor the body composition of male and female F1s from hatching to adulthood (37 weeks of age). At 37 weeks of age, the biochemistry analysis of the GSE-F1 muscle has revealed an increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress and a slight change in lipid composition. Both male and female F1-GSE groups presented a delay in puberty with a lower testis volume at 30 weeks of age and lower ovary development at 26 weeks of age. Adult GSE-F1 males did not present histological alterations of seminiferous tubules or semen production, but the semen quality was degraded due to higher oxidative stress and DNA-damaged spermatozoa compared with control F1 animals. In adult GSE-F1 females, despite the delay in puberty, the females laid more eggs of better quality (fewer broken eggs and a higher hatching rate). At hatching, the weight of the chicks from GSE-F1 females was reduced, and this effect was stronger in F2 male chicks (F2) compared with F2 control chicks (F2), because of the lower muscle volume. In conclusion, we can raise the hypothesis that maternal dietary GSE supplementation produces eggs with change in embryonic metabolism, which may affect in adulthood the fertility. The data obtained from the F1-GSE group pointed to a sex-specific modification with higher egg quality in females but semen sensitive to stress in males. Finally, male F2 chicks were leaner than control chicks. Thus, maternal dietary grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation in hens may impact on the fertility of the offspring in a sex-specific manner in subsequent generations.

Impact of grape ( Vitis vinifera ) seed extract on egg production traits, nutrients digestability, lipid peroxidation and fertility of golden laying hens ( Gallus gallus ) during early stage of production

“…According to Grandhaye et al. ( 2021 ), the supplementation of synthetic antioxidants like vitamin E and selenium has been shown to enhance fertility in laying hens. Therefore, based on the decreased MDA activity observed in our current study, we can infer that the antioxidative activity is responsible for the improved fertility in laying hens.…”

Transcriptome-metabolome analysis reveals how sires affect meat quality in hybrid sheep populations

“…Fatty acids are important chemical substances constituting fats and are important aromatic substances or precursors of aromatic substances. Studies have shown that fatty acid metabolism levels and composition affect meat quality and its nutritional value; for example, dodecanoic (C12:0), myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), linoleic (C18:1), alpha-linolenic (C18:2) and linolenic fatty acids (C18:3) can enhance meat flavors (38)(39)(40)(41). Dodecanoic acid is reported to enhance intramuscular fat deposition and increase the accumulation of myristic and myristoleic acids (C14:1), which may benefit human health (42).…”