Natural astaxanthin enhanced antioxidant capacity and improved semen quality through the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway in aging layer breeder roosters

Abstract

Background Natural astaxanthin (ASTA) has strong antioxidant properties and has been widely used as a health product to improve human health. However, the effects of ASTA on the reproductive performance of aging roosters have been poorly studied. We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on semen quality and antioxidant capacity in aging roosters and to explore the potential mechanism of semen quality change via anti-oxidation defense system. Methods In the present study, 96 53-week-old Jinghong No. 1 layer breeder roosters were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg ASTA for 6 weeks. Results Semen quality in the ASTA groups remarkably improved than that in the control group, and antioxidant activities, the abilities to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, increased gradually with ASTA addition (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as the mRNA and protein levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were markedly increased in the 50–100 mg/kg ASTA group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Collectively, these results demonstrate that dietary ASTA may improve semen quality by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, which may be related to upregulation of the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway.

Dietary supplementation with astaxanthin alleviates ovarian aging in aged laying hens by enhancing antioxidant capacity and increasing reproductive hormones

“…p-NRF2 is an important indicator of NRF2 function ( Bellezza et al, 2018 ). Previous studies have shown that astaxanthin enhanced antioxidant capacity and improves semen quality in aged layer breeders through the MAPK/NRF2 pathway ( Gao et al, 2021 ). In our study, the expression of NRF2 and p-NRF2 in the ovary was significantly up-regulated in the experimental groups, indicating that the oxidative stress level in laying hens in the late laying period was alleviated by NRF2 .…”

“…It has strong antioxidant activity and has clinical applications for the prevention and treatment of cancer, chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis, aging, eye-related disorders, and cardiovascular diseases ( Farruggia et al, 2018 ; Eren et al, 2019 ; Sztretye et al, 2019 ). In poultry, astaxanthin improves male sperm quality by modulating antioxidant enzyme activity ( Gao et al, 2021 ). In vitro studies have revealed that astaxanthin improves bovine oocyte maturation and promotes progesterone production in luteal cells ( Li et al, 2015 ; Kamada et al, 2017 ).…”

The effect of astaxanthin on human sperm parameters after cryopreservation

“…They reported that ASTA had an antioxidant effect on the development of cattle embryo 36 . Gao et al observed that 100 mg/kg ASTA increased semen quality and antioxidant activity in a study they conducted in rooster sperm 37 . Comhaire et al gave 16 mg ASTA orally to 30 infertile male individuals for 3 months.…”

Natural Astaxanthin Improves Testosterone Synthesis and Sperm Mitochondrial Function in Aging Roosters

“…ASTA is a precursor of vitamin A, and its biological activities include antioxidant [ 21 ], anti-inflammatory [ 22 ], and anti-apoptotic properties, as well as the inhibition of lipid peroxidation [ 23 ]. Our previous study suggested that dietary ASTA could enhance sperm motility in aging roosters (an increase from 64.40% to 76.23%), which affects the expression of the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway, and reinforce the antioxidant defense system [ 24 ]. Our previous study revealed that sperm concentration and semen volume were also remarkably increased in animals with ASTA supplementation.…”