Dietary N‑acetylcysteine enhances sperm motility by remodeling the rumen microbiome and its metabolic axis in goatsOA
Background Enhancing sperm motility is crucial for improving male fertility in ruminants.The rumen microbiota,central to nutrient metabolism of ruminants,represents a promising yet underexplored target for dietary intervention.This study investigated whether N-acetylcysteine(NAC)improves sperm motility via modulating the rumen microbiota-metabolite axis.Results Dietary NAC supplementation significantly enhanced sperm motility in goats(P<0.05),with the optimal effect observed at 0.3%,which coincided with improvements in sperm membrane integrity,antioxidant capacity,and mitochondrial function.Functional analysis revealed that NAC-induced microbial remodeling enriched KEGG pathways involved in antioxidant,energy,and lipid metabolism.Correspondingly,beneficial bacteria such as Pediococcus pentosaceus,Bacteroides acidifaciens,and Akkermansia,among others,were significantly enriched(P<0.05).Notably,metabolic alterations in these pathways were consistently reflected in both the rumen fluid and plasma metabolomes,as evidenced by 25 conserved pathways and 2 overlapping metabolites.Collectively,these metabolic alterations ultimately enhanced sperm motility by improving sperm antioxidant status,energy supply,and lipid homeostasis.Conclusions Our study thus reveals that NAC enhances sperm motility via a rumen microbiome-mediated“rumen-plasma-sperm”axis.This novel insight broadens the understanding of how NAC—and potentially other antioxidants—regulates sperm motility,highlighting the promise of NAC-based dietary interventions for improving reproductive performance.
Jinhong Luo;Xiaodong Wang;Yonghong Ju;Quan Ji;Ruiyang Li;Yong Ruan;Jiafu Zhao;Qingmeng Long;Yishun Shang;Ping Li;Maosheng Cao;Xiang Chen
College of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,China Guizhou Institute of Prataculture,Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Science,Guiyang,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaGuizhou Provincial Livestock and Poultry Germplasm Evaluation Center,Guiyang,ChinaGuizhou Institute of Prataculture,Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Science,Guiyang,ChinaGuizhou Provincial Livestock and Poultry Germplasm Evaluation Center,Guiyang,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,ChinaCollege of Animal Science/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics,Breeding and Reproduction in The Plateau Mountainous Region,Ministry of Education,Guizhou University,Guiyang 550025,China
农业科技
GoatMulti-omicsN-acetylcysteineRumen microbiomeSperm motility
《Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology》 2026 (5)
P.2890-2910,21
supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2021YFD1200403)Guizhou Province Mountainous Agriculture Key Research Program(No.GZNYJGHX-2023006)Guizhou Province Mutton Sheep Genetic Improvement and Innovative Utilization Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team Project(No.Qian Kehe Platform Talent-CXTD[2023]025)Guizhou Province High-level Innovative“Hundred”Level Talent Project(No.GCC[2022]021-1).
评论