Effect of resveratrol on spermatogenesis in breeding boars and the proteomic analysis for testes

Effect of resveratrol (RSV) on spermatogenesis and the mechanism of resveratrol in promoting spermatogenesis of breeding boars was explored by feeding sexually mature Duroc boars with normal diet and 20 mg/kg resveratrol diet for 14 days to the control group and experimental group, respectively. Semen volume, sperm density, motility, viability and abnormality rate were analyzed on day 0, 7, and 14. Blood samples were collected, and levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in serum were analyzed. On day 14, the testis tissue was collected for antioxidant and proteomics analysis etc. The semen volume, sperm density, motility, and viability of the experimental group and the contents of serum FSH, LH, T and plasma SOD activity were significantly higher than those in the control group. However, the serum IL-6, TNF-α and plasma MDA were remarkably lower in experimental group. The above results showed that resveratrol can simulate spermatogenesis in breeding boars. Proteomic results demonstrated that three differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were up-regulated and 12 DEPs were down-regulated; ODF1, calmodulin, Cabs1, and Hp were involved in spermatogenesis; and the main enriched metabolic pathway is steroid hormone synthesis pathway. Therefore, the improvement in sperm quality by resveratrol may be achieved by regulating the changes in outer dense fiber 1, calmodulin, spermatid specific 1, and haptoglobin expression and steroid synthesis pathway.