China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (11): 5499-5509.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.11.044

• Basic Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles    

Study on the Alleviating Effect of Metformin on Ovarian Aging in Breeding Pigeons

ZHAO Xingchen1, GAO Qiuwei1,2, LIANG Yayan1, GAO Ming1, WANG Wei1, ZHOU Shuo1   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China;
    2. Criminal Investigation Detachment of Yangjiang Public Security Bureau, Yangjiang 529500, China
  • Received:2025-01-02 Published:2025-10-30

PDF (PC)

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Abstract: 【Objective】 This study aimed to explore the alleviating effect of metformin on ovarian aging in breeding pigeons. 【Method】 ①Forty pairs of 6-year-old breeding pigeons were randomly divided into two groups.The breeding pigeons were provided drinking water containing either 0 (control group) or 62.5 mg/kg metformin for a 40-day feeding trial.After the experiment was completed,blood was collected to measure serum antioxidant capacity indicators,and ovarian tissues were harvested to assess glycolysis-related gene expression levels.Western blotting analysis was performed to detect the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1),hexokinase 2 (HK2) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),and phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and protein kinase B (AKT).② Small white follicles (SWFs) were collected from 3-year-old breeding pigeons post-slaughter and rinsed.The experiment was divided into four groups:Control group,H2O2 group,metformin＋H2O2 group and metformin group.After 72 h of culture,SWFs were collected for Western blotting to evaluate the expression levels of LDHA,HK2,GLUT1,p-AKT/AKT,pAMPK/AMPK,Bcl2,BAX and PCNA.The localization of LDHA,HK2 and GLUT1 were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining.Real-time quantitative PCR revealed elevated mRNA expression of glycolysis-related genes PFKP,ENO1,LDH,ALDOB, GLUT1, and so on.③A granulosa cell culture model was established,with the experiment divided into four groups:Control group,H2O2 group,metformin＋H2O2 group and metformin group.After 72 h of culture, granulosa cells were collected for EdU staining. 【Result】 ①In vivo test results showed that compared with control group,metformin supplementation significantly improved egg production quantity and ovarian weight (P＜0.05).Real-time quantitative PCR revealed mRNA expression of glycolysis-related genes PFKP,PFKL,ENO1,LDHA,LDHC,LDHB,ALDOB and GLUT1 and enhanced antioxidant capacity (P＜0.05).②Immunofluorescence of in vitro follicular aging model showed that LDHA,HK2 and GLUT1 were predominantly localized in the granulosa layer.Western blotting results showed that,compared with control group,H2O2 treatment downregulated LDHA,HK2,GLUT1,p-AKT/AKT and PCNA levels (P＜0.05),while increased Bax∶Bcl2 ratio (P＜0.05).Metformin＋H2O2 reversed these effects (P＜0.05).Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that compared with control group,the mRNA expression levels of genes PFKP,ENO1, LDH,ALDOB, GLUT1, and so on were significantly downregulated in H2O2 group (P＜0.05),Metformin＋H2O2 reversed these effects (P＜0.05).③In the granulosa cell model,EdU results showed that H2O2 treatment reduced cell proliferation compared with control group,while metformin＋H2O2 treatment increased proliferation. 【Conclusion】 Metformin could alleviate ovarian aging in breeding pigeons by activating the AMPK/Akt signaling pathway,enhancing glycolysis in granulosa cells,and improving egg-laying performance,thereby increasing economic benefits in poultry farming.

Key words: metformin; breeding pigeon; glycolysis; AMPK/Akt signaling pathway; ovary

CLC Number: