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  3. Maternal Tryptophan Supplementation Enhances Sow Reproductive Performance by Influencing Hormones, Tryptophan Metabolism, and Gut Microbiome

Maternal Tryptophan Supplementation Enhances Sow Reproductive Performance by Influencing Hormones, Tryptophan Metabolism, and Gut Microbiome

  • J Nutr. 2025 May 5:S0022-3166(25)00277-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.04.031.
Zhekun Zhu 1,  Bangxing Xue 1,  Huan Li 1,  Xinyu Wang 1,  Yanlong Li 1,  Jun Huang 1,  Shuang Cai 1,  Xiangzhou Zeng 1,  Meixia Chen 1,  Shihai Zhang 2,  Fang Chen 2,  Chuanjiang Cai 3,  Xiangfang Zeng 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio feed Additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
  • 2 College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 3 College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. Electronic address: caichj@nwafu.edu.cn.
  • 4 State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Bio feed Additives, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: ziyangzxf@163.com.
PMID: 40334786 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.04.031
Abstract

Background: Enhancing the early embryo survival rate is important for increasing sow reproductive efficiency. Whether and how tryptophan influences early embryo survival and pregnancy outcomes in sows remains unknown.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary tryptophan supplementation on the reproductive performance of sows.

Methods: A total of 128 multiparous Large White × Landrace sows were randomly assigned to 4 groups including the control group (dietary tryptophan concentration was 0.18% from weaning to estrus and 0.10% from day 1 to day 28 of pregnancy) or the low, medium, and high dose of tryptophan supplementation groups (dietary tryptophan levels were 0.27%, 0.36%, and 0.45% from weaning to estrus and 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.25% from day 1 to day 28 of pregnancy). Primary porcine granulosa cells were isolated from porcine ovaries and treated with selected tryptophan metabolites to assess hormone levels in the cell supernatant.

Results: Compared with the control group, the dietary high levels of tryptophan group increased the litter weight (P < 0.05) and showed an increasing trend in the born alive per litter (P = 0.06). Serum concentration of progesterone and estradiol and levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, xanthurenic acid, 2-aminobenzoic acid, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase on day 28 of pregnancy were increased in the high concentration of tryptophan group (P < 0.05). In vitro experiments using primary porcine granulosa Cell Culture showed that tryptophan and 2-aminobenzoic acid increased progesterone and estradiol levels in the cell supernatant (P < 0.05). Dietary tryptophan supplementation increased the abundances of fecal beneficial bacteria such as Hydrogenoanaerobacterium and Lachnospiraceae in sows (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Dietary tryptophan supplementation may enhance the pregnancy outcome of sows through the increase of tryptophan metabolites to strengthen steroid hormone secretion and the abundance of beneficial microbes.

Keywords

gut microbiota; hormone synthesis; in vitro; reproductive performance; sows; tryptophan; tryptophan metabolism.

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