Prebiotics mannan-oligosaccharides accelerate sexual maturity in rats: A randomized preclinical study

Abstract

Background and Aim: The prebiotics, mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), demonstrate the ability to increase probiotic microorganisms and fixation and removal of pathogens associated with chronic systemic inflammation in the digestive system. Inflammatory processes play an important role in modulating the brain-intestinal axis, including maintaining male reproductive function and spermatogenesis and regulating stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the action of MOS on testosterone and corticosterone concentrations and the reproductive system development of rats in the growth phase as an animal model. Materials and Methods: In total, 128 male rats were used, randomly divided into four experimental groups (n=32): Control; MOS 1; MOS 2; and MOS 3. From each group, eight animals were sacrificed in four experimental moments (14, 28, 42, and 56 days, respectively, moments 1, 2, 3, and 4) and hormonal measurements and histological evaluations were performed. Results: The results revealed the effect of diet, MOS, and timing on testicle weight (p<0.05). At moments 3 and 4, the groups supplemented with MOS showed higher concentrations of testosterone and decreased corticosterone levels throughout the experimental period. Groups supplemented with MOS showed an increase in the frequency of relative sperm and sperm scores. The radii of the seminiferous tubules presented a significant statistical effect of the diet, moments, and diet + moment interaction. Conclusion: It was concluded that the three different MOS prebiotics brought forward sexual maturity.

The Improvement of Semen Quality by Dietary Fiber Intake Is Positively Related With Gut Microbiota and SCFA in a Boar Model

“…An increasing number of studies have shown that probiotics play a very important role in regulating body health and reproduction. Rats supplemented with a prebiotic, mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), showed higher concentrations of testosterone and increased spermatozoa relative scores of the testicles (Rodrigues et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, supplementation of a probiotic with a prebiotic improved the quality/quantity of spermatozoa in infertile patients (Maretti and Cavallini, 2017 ).…”

Gut microbiota-gonadal axis: the impact of gut microbiota on reproductive functions

“…Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01 supplementation has also been reported to improve sperm motility, normal morphology, and Leydig cells number in the testis ( 184 ). Prebiotics, such as oligofructose, have been shown to promote testosterone production and spermatogenesis ( 185 ).…”

Exploring the role of gut microbiome in male reproduction

“…Previous studies have shown that prebiotics can increase levels of certain probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus , as well as increase levels of short‐chain fatty acids, which help to regulate immune, metabolic, and other functions 91 . Rodrigues and colleagues found that oligofructose supplemented mice exhibited significant alterations in steroidogenesis, which in turn may have altered plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels via the HPA axis, and promoted maturation of spermatogenic tubules and spermatogenesis and growth 92 …”