Impact of Chlorella Vulgaris Supplemented Diets on Oxidative Stress and Reproduction Performance in New Zealand White Rabbits.

Impact of Chlorella Vulgaris Supplemented Diets on Oxidative Stress and Reproduction Performance in New Zealand White Rabbits.

Abstract: This research aimed to explore the antioxidant capacity of microalga Chlorella vulgaris in mitigating oxidative stress and enhancing reproductive performance in rabbits. The study encompassed both in vitro assessment of Chlorella vulgaris as an antioxidant source and in vivo supplementation trials with varying doses (0, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg per kilogram bodyweight) in different physiological states, including pre-pubertal, gestation, lactation, and finishing stages.

For the experiments, forty weaner rabbit does were observed during the prepubertal, gestation, and finishing stages, while 35 and 75 rabbit does and male rabbit kits were observed during the lactation and prepubertal stages, respectively. The experimental design involved a completely randomized approach for each physiological stage. The rabbits were individually housed in cages, provided ad-libitum access to basal feed and water, and given kindling boxes during the parturition period.

Data on rabbit performance, serum and tissue oxidative stress biomarkers, and the regulation and expression patterns of genes associated with oxidative stress, reproductive performance, immune function, and growth were collected. The results showed that microalga intake significantly improved the reproductive index of rabbit does. The group with the highest intake demonstrated a reproductive index of 7.00, compared to 5.36 in the control group (p = 0.01).

Moreover, serum malondialdehyde concentration during gestation was significantly reduced in rabbits supplemented with Chlorella vulgaris biomass (13.54, 14.05, 11.82, and 13.54 nmol/mL for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively) compared to the control group (28.85 nmol/mL) (p = 0.003). Microalga intake also led to reduced feed intake without compromising commercial carcass yield and feed-to-meat production of the rabbits until the finishing stage (p = 0.001).

Furthermore, the supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris resulted in the up-regulation of genes SOD1, GPX1, GSTP1, and CYP1A1 in rabbits of the treatment groups compared to the control (p = 0.05). Additionally, maternal intake of Chlorella vulgaris during gestation led to kindling of rabbit kits with higher birthweights, with kits from T1, T2, T3, and T4 groups weighing 40.22, 39.33, 41.73, and 50.23 g, respectively, compared to 34.89 g in the control group (p = 0.04).

In conclusion, supplementing Chlorella vulgaris biomass at different physiological stages protected rabbits from oxidative stress and resulted in improved reproductive performance, productivity, and growth. Therefore, the recommended dosages for performance enhancement in rabbits from prepubertal to finishing stages are 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg of microalga biomass per kilogram of bodyweight.

Impact of Chlorella Vulgaris Supplemented Diets on Oxidative Stress and Reproduction Performance in New Zealand White Rabbits.

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