Lactational high weight loss impairs follicular development by causing mitochondrial dysfunction of ovarian cells in sows and mitigated by butyrate supplement

作者：Kexiong Liu, Luyao Zhang, Xiaoling Xu, Mengyao Song, Haiquan Ding, Linli Xiao, Junhui Wen, Chunmei Zhou, Jiahua Bai, Yan Liu · 发表于：Journal of Advanced Research · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.jare.2025.01.050 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies、Reproductive Biology and Fertility、Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors

INTRODUCTION: In modern sows, lactational high weight loss (HWL), caused by the large litter size and inadequate feed intake, has a negative effect on follicular development after weaning, resulting in poor reproductive performance in the subsequent parity. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to explore the mechanism that sows HWL during lactation damages follicular development and attempt to improve the reproductive function by treating with butyrate. METHOD: Four multiparous sister sows were chosen to build a HWL model for lactating sows through feed restriction during the final week of a 21-day lactation. Spatially transcriptomics (ST) and tissue immunofluorescent staining were then utilized for the antral follicles in the ovarian surface to search for differentially expressed genes and proteins among different cell types. Subsequently, the mouse assay, including immunofluorescent staining, transmission electron microscopy, hormone detection and western blot, were conducted to verify the findings in sows and investigate the effect of butyrate on the follicular development in HWL mice. RESULTS: Based on the transcriptomic analysis, differentially expressed genes in granulosa cells, theca cells, and ovarian stromal cells were examined. The findings revealed that HWL disturbs the mitochondrial electron transport chain and steroidogenesis in all three cell types by downregulating the expression of NDUFB3, SDHB, CYCS, COX8A and CYP...