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Brecchia G, Muça G, Munga A, Menchetti L, Galosi L, Rossi G, Barbato O, Pastorelli G, Agradi S, Serra V, Sulçe M, Ozuni E, Turmalaj L, Castrica M, Ceccarini MR, Riva F, Fioretti B, Quattrone A, Marongiu ML, Curone G. Goji Berry in the Diet of the Rabbit Buck: Effects on Semen Quality, Oxidative Status and Histological Features of the Reproductive Tract. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1959. [PMID: 38001812 PMCID: PMC10669443 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12111959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Goji berry (GB) shows beneficial effects on human health, although its effects on the male rabbit have been little investigated. This study examines the impact of GB dietary supplementation on the semen traits, antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, and histological features of the reproductive tract of rabbit buck. Eighteen rabbits were distributed into two dietary groups: one receiving a commercial feed (Control), and the other a feed supplemented with 1% of GB (Goji). After a nutritional adaptation period of 60 days, the animals were subjected to semen collection every 15 days. The semen traits, libido, antioxidant, and inflammatory parameters were collected and analyzed. The rabbits were sacrificed after 60 days, and tissues of the genital tract were analyzed. Compared to the Control group, the Goji group showed higher spermatozoa concentration, motility, and vitality (p < 0.05), as well as fewer abnormal spermatozoa and a higher libido (p < 0.1). Histological features such as functional activity and hyperplasia were improved by GB and correlated with some semen traits (p < 0.05). Conversely, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory parameters were unaffected by the diet. These findings suggest that GB acts on the tissues of the reproductive tract positively influencing semen quality, although further studies are needed to understand the effect on oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Brecchia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
| | - Gerald Muça
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër Kamëz, 1029 Tirana, Albania; (G.M.); (A.M.); (M.S.); (E.O.); (L.T.)
| | - Albana Munga
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër Kamëz, 1029 Tirana, Albania; (G.M.); (A.M.); (M.S.); (E.O.); (L.T.)
| | - Laura Menchetti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy;
| | - Livio Galosi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy;
| | - Giacomo Rossi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, 62024 Matelica, Italy;
| | - Olimpia Barbato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Grazia Pastorelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
| | - Stella Agradi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
| | - Valentina Serra
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
| | - Majlind Sulçe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër Kamëz, 1029 Tirana, Albania; (G.M.); (A.M.); (M.S.); (E.O.); (L.T.)
| | - Enkeleda Ozuni
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër Kamëz, 1029 Tirana, Albania; (G.M.); (A.M.); (M.S.); (E.O.); (L.T.)
| | - Luigj Turmalaj
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër Kamëz, 1029 Tirana, Albania; (G.M.); (A.M.); (M.S.); (E.O.); (L.T.)
| | - Marta Castrica
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
| | | | - Federica Riva
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
| | - Bernard Fioretti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Via dell’Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Alda Quattrone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
| | - Maria Laura Marongiu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Giulio Curone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.B.); (G.P.); (S.A.); (V.S.); (F.R.); (A.Q.); (G.C.)
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Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum) Supplementation during Pregnancy Influences Insulin Sensitivity in Rabbit Does but Not in Their Offspring. Animals (Basel) 2021; 12:ani12010039. [PMID: 35011145 PMCID: PMC8749738 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) dietary supplementation during pregnancy on insulin sensitivity of rabbit does and their offspring. Starting from two months before the artificial insemination, 75 New Zealand White does were fed only commercial standard diet (C) or supplemented with 1% (G1) and 3% (G3) of Goji berries. Their offspring received a standard diet but kept the nomenclature of the mother’s group. Fasting and intravenous glucose tolerance test-derived indices were estimated at 21 days of pregnancy on rabbit does and at 90 days of age on the offspring. No difference was found in the fasting indices, while the diet modulated the response to glucose load of rabbit does. In particular, G3 group had the lowest glucose concentrations 5 min after the bolus administration (p < 0.05) and, as a result, differed in the parameters calculated during the elimination phase such as the elimination rate constant (Kel), the half-life of the exogenous glucose load (t1/2), and apparent volume of distribution (Vd; for all, p < 0.05). The high dose of Goji supplementation could thus enhance the first-phase glucose-induced insulin secretion. Findings on the offspring were inconsistent and therefore a long-term effect of Goji supplementation during pregnancy could not be demonstrated. Further study on the effect of Goji on the secretory pathway of insulin could clarify its hypoglycaemic action, while different protocols are needed to investigate its potential effects on foetal programming.
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Andoni E, Curone G, Agradi S, Barbato O, Menchetti L, Vigo D, Zelli R, Cotozzolo E, Ceccarini MR, Faustini M, Quattrone A, Castrica M, Brecchia G. Effect of Goji Berry ( Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061672. [PMID: 34205213 PMCID: PMC8227310 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Infectious diseases represent serious problems for the reproductive performance of livestock animals because they negatively affect not only the welfare of the animals, but also the profitability of the farm. Moreover, the European Community continues to promote the reduction of the use of antibiotics and hormones in animal breeding. In this context, it is necessary to find new nutritional approaches to reduce the negative energy balance, and at the same time, to reinforce the immune system of the animals. In this research, the effect of goji berry supplementation on the reproductive activity and productive performance of rabbits is evaluated. Lycium barbarum fruit is considered a nutraceutical natural product containing various biologically active substances that show health benefits for both humans and animals. In particular, the berry can modulate hormones and metabolites involved in energy balance and reproduction, stimulate and balance the immune system activity, contributing to the defense of the organism against pathogens. Our results suggest that the integration with goji berry in the rabbit diet at 1% affects the reproductive activity, influencing the pattern secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogens, as well as the sexual receptivity. Moreover, the fruit induced a higher milk production, improving the productive performance of young rabbits. Abstract Goji berry shows a wide range of beneficial properties in human health, but only a few studies evaluated its effects in livestock animals. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of goji berry supplementation on the hormonal profile, productive, and reproductive performance of does. Two months before artificial insemination, 105 nulliparous does were randomly divided into three groups (n = 35) based on the dietary treatment: commercial diet (C), or a diet supplemented with either 1% (G1), or 3% (G3) of goji berry, respectively. The results showed that receptivity was higher in G1 than in the C group (p < 0.05). Trends toward significance for differences between the G1 and G3 groups in marginal means of LH concentrations (p = 0.059), and between G1 and C in LH AUC values (p = 0.078), were evidenced. Estrogen concentrations showed a more fluctuating trend but a significant interaction effect (p < 0.001). The G1 group showed higher litter weight than C at birth (p = 0.008) and weaning (p < 0.001), as well as higher litter size at weaning (p = 0.020). The G1 group also exhibited the highest mean milk production (p < 0.01). In conclusion, goji berry influenced reproductive and productive performance, probably via modulating hormonal patterns and milk production in rabbits. However, further studies are needed to validate these preliminary results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egon Andoni
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Albania, 1029 Kamez, Albania;
| | - Giulio Curone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Stella Agradi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Olimpia Barbato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (O.B.); (R.Z.); (A.Q.)
| | - Laura Menchetti
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40137 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-503-34583
| | - Daniele Vigo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Riccardo Zelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (O.B.); (R.Z.); (A.Q.)
| | - Elisa Cotozzolo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy;
| | | | - Massimo Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
| | - Alda Quattrone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (O.B.); (R.Z.); (A.Q.)
| | - Marta Castrica
- Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni”, University of Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Brecchia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (S.A.); (D.V.); (M.F.); (G.B.)
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Abstract
The accurate quantitative maturity detection of fresh Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum) fruit is the key to determine whether fruit are suitable for harvesting or not and can also be helpful to improve the quality of post-harvest processing. To achieve this goal, abnormal samples were eliminated by the Mahalanobis Distance (MD), and nine components (i.e., R, G, B, H, S, V, L, a, and b) of the ripe fruit, half-ripe fruit, and unripe fruit were extracted, firstly. Then, significant component combinations of the three fruits beneficial to the extraction of their areas were determined. Through binary processing, morphology processing, and other image processing methods, a quantitative maturity detection model of fruit was established based on the support vector machine (SVM) model. On this basis, field experiments were conducted to verify and compare the relationship between the prediction results of the model and the picking forces of fruit. Field experiments showed that the accuracies of both the training set and prediction set were 100% and the prediction results of the model were consistent with the picking forces of fruit. Findings provided a theoretical basis for the accurate quantitative maturity detection of fresh L. barbarum fruit.
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Menchetti L, Curone G, Andoni E, Barbato O, Troisi A, Fioretti B, Polisca A, Codini M, Canali C, Vigo D, Brecchia G. Impact of Goji Berries ( Lycium barbarum) Supplementation on the Energy Homeostasis of Rabbit Does: Uni- and Multivariate Approach. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112000. [PMID: 33143190 PMCID: PMC7693689 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The energy balance during the reproduction cycle is a problematic issue for livestock species because it has consequences not only on animal welfare but also on the profitability of the farm. The adoption of new nutritional strategies could improve both of these aspects. In the present study, the supplementation with goji berries was proposed and evaluated on the rabbit, which is both a livestock animal and a useful animal model. Goji berry is the fruit of Lycium barbarum that is a natural resource made up of several compounds with biological activities and their consumption could be beneficial for the health and the general well-being of humans and animals. Its effect on several hormones and metabolites involved on energy balance of rabbit doe were evaluated by using both uni- and multivariate approach. Our finding, in addition to describing the intricate relationships between body conditions, hormones and metabolites during pregnancy and lactation, suggested that the supplementation with goji berry in the rabbit diet at low percentage could improve some aspects of energy metabolism and, in particular, doe’s insulin sensitivity. Conversely, the intake of high doses of goji raises concerns due to the risk of excessive fattening and worsening of insulin resistance. Abstract This study examined the effects of goji berries dietary supplementation on the energetic metabolism of doe. Thirty days before artificial insemination, 75 New Zealand White does were assigned to three different diets: commercial standard diet (C) and supplemented with 1% (LG) and 3% (HG) of goji berries, respectively. Body conditions, hormones and metabolites were monitored until weaning. Body weight and BCS were higher in HG than C (p < 0.05). LG showed lower T3/T4 ratio and cortisol concentrations (p < 0.05) and tended to have lower indices of insulin resistances (p < 0.1) than HG. Compared to control, leptin was higher in HG at AI (p < 0.01) and in LG during lactation (p < 0.05). Two principal components were extracted by multivariate analysis describing the relationships between (1) non-esterified fatty acids, insulin and glucose levels, and (2) body conditions and leptin metabolism. The first component highlighted the energy deficit and the insulin resistance of the does during pregnancy and lactation. The second one showed that leptin, body weight and Body Condition Score (BCS) enhance as levels of goji berries in the diet increase. Thus, the effects of goji supplementation are dose-dependent: an improvement on energy metabolism was achieved with a low-dose while the highest dose could determine excessive fattening and insulin resistance in does.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Menchetti
- Department of Agricultural and Agri-food Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 46, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (A.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Giulio Curone
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (D.V.)
| | - Egon Andoni
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Albania, Rr Paisi Vodica, Koder, 1029 Kamez, Albania;
| | - Olimpia Barbato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (A.P.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence: (O.B.); (G.B.)
| | - Alessandro Troisi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via 9 Circonvallazione 93/95-62024 Matelica, Italy;
| | - Bernard Fioretti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Angela Polisca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (A.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Michela Codini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via A. Fabretti 48, 06123 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Claudio Canali
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy; (A.P.); (C.C.)
| | - Daniele Vigo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (D.V.)
| | - Gabriele Brecchia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (D.V.)
- Correspondence: (O.B.); (G.B.)
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