High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance

Abstract Background Compelling evidence has established a strong link between the gut microbiota and host reproductive health. However, the specific regulatory roles of individual bacterial species on reproductive performance are not well-understood. In the present study, Jinhua sows with varying re...

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Main Authors: Yanli Chen, Yan Wang, Weike Shaoyong, Yanmin He, Yalin Liu, Siyu Wei, Yujie Gan, Lu Sun, Youming Wang, Xin Zong, Yun Xiang, Yizhen Wang, Mingliang Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01191-z
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author Yanli Chen
Yan Wang
Weike Shaoyong
Yanmin He
Yalin Liu
Siyu Wei
Yujie Gan
Lu Sun
Youming Wang
Xin Zong
Yun Xiang
Yizhen Wang
Mingliang Jin
author_facet Yanli Chen
Yan Wang
Weike Shaoyong
Yanmin He
Yalin Liu
Siyu Wei
Yujie Gan
Lu Sun
Youming Wang
Xin Zong
Yun Xiang
Yizhen Wang
Mingliang Jin
author_sort Yanli Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Compelling evidence has established a strong link between the gut microbiota and host reproductive health. However, the specific regulatory roles of individual bacterial species on reproductive performance are not well-understood. In the present study, Jinhua sows with varying reproductive performances under the same diet and management conditions were selected to explore potential mechanisms on the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and host reproductive performance using 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics and serum metabolomics. Results Our findings revealed that the KEGG pathways for base excision repair and DNA replication were enriched, along with gene-level enhancements in spore formation, in sows with higher reproductive performance, indicating that the gut microbiome experiences stress. Further analysis showed a positive correlation between these changes and litter size, indicating that the host acts as a stressor, reshaping the microbiome. This adaptation allows the intestinal microbes in sows with high reproductive performance to enrich specific serotonin-related bacteria, such as Oxalobacter formigenes, Ruminococcus sp. CAG 382, Clostridium leptum, and Clostridium botulinum. Subsequently, the enriched microbiota may promote host serotonin production, which is positively correlated with reproductive performance in our study, known to regulate follicle survival and oocyte maturation. Conclusion Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the interactions between gut microbes and the host. It highlights new insights into reassembling gut microbiota in sows with higher litter sizes and the role of serotonin-related microbiota and serotonin in fertility. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-00daab459d8d4eb1bc20b96decad169c2025-08-20T03:48:19ZengBMCJournal of Animal Science and Biotechnology2049-18912025-05-0116111910.1186/s40104-025-01191-zHigh-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performanceYanli Chen0Yan Wang1Weike Shaoyong2Yanmin He3Yalin Liu4Siyu Wei5Yujie Gan6Lu Sun7Youming Wang8Xin Zong9Yun Xiang10Yizhen Wang11Mingliang Jin12Institute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Science ResearchInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityInstitute of Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Background Compelling evidence has established a strong link between the gut microbiota and host reproductive health. However, the specific regulatory roles of individual bacterial species on reproductive performance are not well-understood. In the present study, Jinhua sows with varying reproductive performances under the same diet and management conditions were selected to explore potential mechanisms on the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and host reproductive performance using 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics and serum metabolomics. Results Our findings revealed that the KEGG pathways for base excision repair and DNA replication were enriched, along with gene-level enhancements in spore formation, in sows with higher reproductive performance, indicating that the gut microbiome experiences stress. Further analysis showed a positive correlation between these changes and litter size, indicating that the host acts as a stressor, reshaping the microbiome. This adaptation allows the intestinal microbes in sows with high reproductive performance to enrich specific serotonin-related bacteria, such as Oxalobacter formigenes, Ruminococcus sp. CAG 382, Clostridium leptum, and Clostridium botulinum. Subsequently, the enriched microbiota may promote host serotonin production, which is positively correlated with reproductive performance in our study, known to regulate follicle survival and oocyte maturation. Conclusion Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the interactions between gut microbes and the host. It highlights new insights into reassembling gut microbiota in sows with higher litter sizes and the role of serotonin-related microbiota and serotonin in fertility. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01191-zGut microbiomeMulti-omics analysisReproductive performanceSerotonin
spellingShingle Yanli Chen
Yan Wang
Weike Shaoyong
Yanmin He
Yalin Liu
Siyu Wei
Yujie Gan
Lu Sun
Youming Wang
Xin Zong
Yun Xiang
Yizhen Wang
Mingliang Jin
High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
Gut microbiome
Multi-omics analysis
Reproductive performance
Serotonin
title High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
title_full High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
title_fullStr High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
title_full_unstemmed High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
title_short High-fertility sows reshape gut microbiota: the rise of serotonin-related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
title_sort high fertility sows reshape gut microbiota the rise of serotonin related bacteria and its impact on sustaining reproductive performance
topic Gut microbiome
Multi-omics analysis
Reproductive performance
Serotonin
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01191-z
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