Work

Fertility and Regional Post-Insemination Cytokine Responses in Hens Following Use of Avian β-Defensin 1 or Kanamycin in Rooster Semen Extenders

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Successful artificial insemination in poultry depends on both sperm functional competence and an appropriate immune environment within the female reproductive tract. This study investigated whether supplementing rooster semen extenders with kanamycin or avian β-defensin 1 (AvBD1) affected reproductive performance and regional post-insemination cytokine responses. Semen from 30 Thai native roosters was pooled and diluted in IGGKPh extender without antimicrobial supplementation (Control) or supplemented with kanamycin (31.2 µg/mL; KAN) or AvBD1 (7.5 µg/mL). Thirty-two Thai native hens were assigned to the three semen-inseminated treatments or a sham-inseminated NaCl group. Fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs were evaluated over 10 weeks. At 24 h after the final insemination, four hens per treatment were sampled for analysis of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 mRNA expression in the vagina, uterovaginal junction (UVJ), and infundibulum. Fertility was higher in the KAN and AvBD1 groups than in the Control group (70.23% and 72.81% vs. 65.27%; p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was detected in hatchability of fertile eggs. No significant treatment effects on the measured cytokines were detected in the vagina. Treatment-associated differences in selected cytokines were observed in the UVJ and infundibulum, with most significant pairwise differences involving the NaCl sham group. AvBD1 showed lower IL-8 expression in the infundibulum than the antimicrobial-free Control. No significant difference in fertility was detected between KAN and AvBD1; however, the study was not designed to establish equivalence or non-inferiority between these treatments. These findings support further evaluation of AvBD1 as a candidate antibiotic-sparing component of poultry semen extenders.

Source: Animals

DOI: 10.3390/ani16213525

Authors: Ruthaiporn Ratchamak, Eakapol Wangkahart, Supakorn Authaida, Wuttigrai Boonkum, Vibuntita Chankitisakul

Institutions: Mahasarakham University, Khon Kaen University

Language: English

Topic: Reproductive Physiology in Livestock

Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896