Effect of Curcumin Supplement in Summer Diet on Blood Metabolites Antioxidant Status Immune Response and Testicular Gene Expression in Hu Sheep

摘要

Heat stress can induce oxidative stress and has an adverse effect on the growth and reproductive performance in animals. Curcumin, a plant-derived substance, with the effect of scavenging oxidative free radicals, improving immune response and anti-apoptosis, has been widely used as a dietary supplement in the livestock industry. The present study aims to investigate the effect of a curcumin dietary supplement on the blood metabolites, antioxidant status, immune response, and testicular gene expression in Hu Sheep in summer. The results show that dietary curcumin supplementation (450 and 900 mg/per sheep daily) can promote lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immune response as well as testicular development in Hu sheep, which provides evidence for the protective role of curcumin against heat stress in sheep.