Improvement of Male Mice Fecundity by Using Two New Lactobacillus Strains

Fertility is the most important factor to increase productivity either at the level of human or animal. Probiotics are organisms that have aspect roles in facing diseases and improving the health of the host. So, the goal of this study was to assess two new strains of Lactobacillus plantarum prol and Lactobacillus rhamnosus pro2 as enhancers to male fertility. A total of forty male BALB/c mice were separated into four groups: the control group was fed a standard diet, prol, pro2, and mixed group were given drinking water containing L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, and two of the above strains, respectively. Sexual hormones, and testicular histopathology, and sperm parameters were analyzed. The expression of the Sycp3, Vegfa, and Wtl genes was assessed using RT-PCR. The results indicated a significant increase in FSH and LH hormone levels in the prol and mix groups compared with the control group. The structure of seminiferous tubules was normal in all groups but with a number low in the Pro2 group compared to the other groups. The mixture of two strains recorded the highest count and motility of sperm, and the lowest sperm head and tail abnormality. The results of RT-PCR showed that Sycp3, Vegfa genes were high significant (P <= 0.01) upregulated in the mix group, and significant upregulated (P <= 0.05) in the prol group compared with the control, respectively. When compared to the control, the expression of Wtl gene was substantially elevated (P <= 0.01) in the Pro 1 and mixed group, and insignificantly reduced in the pro2 groups. When compared to the control, the expression of Sycp3 and Vegfa genes was insignificantly elevated in the pro2 group. As a result, this study found that a combination of two strains or Prol alone is effective in enhancing male fertility.