Fermented bamboo powder enhances testicular function and reproductive performance by modulating spermatogenesis, hormonal profiles, and autophagy in yellow-feathered roosters

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of Fermented Bamboo Powder (FBP) supplementation on testicular development and reproductive performance in yellow-feathered roosters.

Methods: A total of 300 roosters were randomly assigned to two groups (n=150 per group) and subjected to a 77-day feeding trial. The control group received a standard basal diet, while the experimental group was fed the same basal diet supplemented with FBP in a stepwise dosing regimen: 1.0 g/kg during Phase I (days 1-22), 2.0 g/kg during Phase II (days 23-45), 4.0 g/kg during Phase III (days 46-60), and 6.0 g/kg during Phase IV (days 61-77). Testicular morphology and spermatogenesis were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and gonadosomatic index. Serum lipids and reproductive hormones were measured with assay kits and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Autophagy-related proteins were analyzed via Western blot, and spermatogenesis-related genes were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: FBP supplementation improved left testis width, length, and thickness, as well as right testis width (P<0.05). Both individual and total testis weights were markedly higher in the FBP group. Histological analysis revealed notable improvements in testicular architecture, including increased seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelial height, luminal area, and Johnsen’s score. At the molecular level, FBP upregulated mRNA expression of spermatogenesis- related genes such as CREM, PCK2, DDX4, GDNF, SPAG6, SPAG16, and SPAG17 (P<0.05). There was a significant increase in total protein and a reduction in triglyceride concentrations. Hormonal evaluations indicated significantly elevated serum testosterone and FSH levels in the FBP group. Importantly, FBP enhanced the expression of autophagy-related proteins beclin-1 and ATG5, suggesting increased autophagic activity. Additionally, phosphorylated mTOR levels were significantly increased.

Conclusions: FBP supplementation positively affects testicular morphometry, endocrine profiles, and molecular pathways involved in spermatogenesis and autophagy, supporting its potential role in improving male reproductive performance in poultry.

Keywords

Yellow-feather rooster / Fermented bamboo powder / Spermatogenesis / Testicular histology / Reproductive Performance

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Jiangsu Provincial Seed Industry Revitalization Project (Grant No. JBGS [2021] 108) and the Basic Operational Funding for International Students at Nanjing Agricultural University (Grant No. Z552000008).

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

Authors’ contributions

Rahmani Mohammad Malyar contributed to writing-original draft, writing-review & editing, visualization, validation, methodology, investigation, formal analysis, and data curation. Jiahao Sun and Shoura Hytham Elsaid contributed to writing-review & editing, investigation, formal analysis, and data curation. Mohammad Bayer Darmel contributed to writing-review & editing, methodology, and data curation. Yansen Li contributed to writing-review & editing, methodology, and resources. Wei Ding contributed to writing- review & editing, methodology, and data curation. Fangxiong Shi contributed to writing-review & editing, validation, supervision, resources, project administration, funding acquisition, and conceptualization. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Publisher’ s Note

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