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Background <p>β-Carotene exhibits distinct biological effects that enhance reproductive performance in mammals; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of β-carotene on ovarian development in replacement gilts and to investigate its potential mechanisms.</p> Results <p>A total of 20 gilts, aged 130 d, were randomly assigned to control group or β-carotene group (β-C group, diet containing 10&#xa0;mg/kg of β-carotene). Each group consisted of 10 replicates, with one gilt per replicate, over a 60-d trial. β-Carotene significantly increased the number of follicles measuring 2–5&#xa0;mm in diameter, elevated estradiol concentrations in both blood and follicular fluid of replacement gilts (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Compared to the control group, the β-C group exhibited a significant increase in β-carotene concentration within ovarian follicular fluid (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis of GCs revealed that β-carotene could significantly upregulated the expression of Forkhead Box L2 (FOXL2). When β-carotene and its metabolic product were administered to granulosa cells (GCs), validation of differentially expressed genes in the transcriptome suggests the possibility that β-carotene, rather than its metabolic product, is responsible for the upregulation of FOXL2 in ovarian GCs, which subsequently may regulate StAR and enhance estradiol synthesis. Furthermore, β-carotene is likely to promote lipolysis, providing essential substrates for estradiol and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Concurrently, β-carotene appears to increase the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in gilts, thereby reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) and maintaining redox balance.</p> Conclusions <p>Our findings suggest that β-carotene&#xa0;could promote&#xa0;lipolysis,&#xa0;activate&#xa0;the FOXL2-StAR pathway to&#xa0;increase&#xa0;estradiol synthesis in GCs, and&#xa0;alleviate&#xa0;oxidative stress, thereby&#xa0;contributing to&#xa0;follicle development.</p>

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Dietary β-carotene improves the ovary development and antioxidant capacity of replacement gilts

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月7日

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  • Jingya Jiang,
  • Langduan Chen,
  • Weiying Ma,
  • Tingting Wen,
  • Rui Liu,
  • Guiyan Chu,
  • Xiangfang Zeng,
  • Shiyan Qiao,
  • Chuanjiang Cai

摘要

Background

β-Carotene exhibits distinct biological effects that enhance reproductive performance in mammals; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of β-carotene on ovarian development in replacement gilts and to investigate its potential mechanisms.

Results

A total of 20 gilts, aged 130 d, were randomly assigned to control group or β-carotene group (β-C group, diet containing 10 mg/kg of β-carotene). Each group consisted of 10 replicates, with one gilt per replicate, over a 60-d trial. β-Carotene significantly increased the number of follicles measuring 2–5 mm in diameter, elevated estradiol concentrations in both blood and follicular fluid of replacement gilts (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the β-C group exhibited a significant increase in β-carotene concentration within ovarian follicular fluid (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis of GCs revealed that β-carotene could significantly upregulated the expression of Forkhead Box L2 (FOXL2). When β-carotene and its metabolic product were administered to granulosa cells (GCs), validation of differentially expressed genes in the transcriptome suggests the possibility that β-carotene, rather than its metabolic product, is responsible for the upregulation of FOXL2 in ovarian GCs, which subsequently may regulate StAR and enhance estradiol synthesis. Furthermore, β-carotene is likely to promote lipolysis, providing essential substrates for estradiol and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. Concurrently, β-carotene appears to increase the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in gilts, thereby reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P < 0.05) and maintaining redox balance.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that β-carotene could promote lipolysis, activate the FOXL2-StAR pathway to increase estradiol synthesis in GCs, and alleviate oxidative stress, thereby contributing to follicle development.