L-glutamine supplementation improves porcine sperm quality and early embryo development during in vitro fertilization.

Jieyu Wang; Qi Zhou; Yong Wang; Xiaotong Liu; Zihan Xu; Zhenzhen Yin; Xiaoli Guo; Shiqing Wang; Shiying Zhai; Baobao Zhao; Yang Li; Heqiang Li; Suzhu Qing; Yongsheng Wang

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108289

PubMed · 42442323

L-glutamine supplementation improves porcine sperm quality and early embryo development during in vitro fertilization.

Jieyu Wang·Qi Zhou·Yong Wang·Xiaotong Liu·Zihan Xu·Zhenzhen Yin·Xiaoli Guo·Shiqing Wang·Shiying Zhai·Baobao Zhao·Yang Li·Heqiang Li·Suzhu Qing·Yongsheng Wang

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Abstract

L-glutamine (Gln), as a key additive in porcine sperm capacitation medium and in vitro fertilization (IVF) systems, has been shown to significantly improve sperm motility and survival rates. However, its precise roles during porcine IVF and subsequent early embryonic development remain elusive. This study utilized an IVF model in pigs to investigate the effects of glutamine on sperm quality and embryonic development. We found that Gln supplementation during sperm treatment significantly improved sperm quality, as evidenced by reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and early apoptosis, while enhancing calcium ion levels and endoplasmic reticulum activity. Supplementing glutamine during embryo culture reduced polyspermy rates, promoted zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and accumulation of 5-ethynyluridine (EU) and histone modifications (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) at the two-cell and four-cell stages, increased blastocyst formation rates and total cell numbers, while simultaneously reducing DNA damage and early apoptosis during the blastocyst stage. In summary, these findings demonstrate that Gln enhances porcine IVF outcomes by improving sperm quality, reducing polyspermy, and facilitating early embryonic development, thereby providing a basis for optimizing culture systems.

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Animals Male Fertilization in Vitro Glutamine Embryonic Development Spermatozoa Swine Embryo Culture Techniques Semen Analysis Female Embryonic development Histone modifications Polyspermy Zygotic genome activation Journal Article

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Jieyu Wang, Qi Zhou, Yong Wang, Xiaotong Liu, Zihan Xu, Zhenzhen Yin, Xiaoli Guo, Shiqing Wang, Shiying Zhai, Baobao Zhao, Yang Li, Heqiang Li, Suzhu Qing, Yongsheng Wang. 2026-07-09. L-glutamine supplementation improves porcine sperm quality and early embryo development during in vitro fertilization.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2026.108289

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