Effect of diet supplementation with a commercial probiotic containing Pediococcus acidilactici (Lindner, 1887) on the expression of five quality markers in zebrafish (Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822)) testis

Abstract

The effects of a commercial probiotic diet supplement (Bactocell((R))), containing lactic acid bacteria Pediococcus acidilactici were evaluated by identifying five zebrafish (Danio rerio) sperm quality markers. P.acidilactici (10(6) colony-forming units per gram) was supplied to young zebrafish males (age 8months) as a feed probiotic additive during a 10days test period. Five transcripts, previously described as male zebrafish quality markers, were studied: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf), BCL2-interacting killer (bik), double-sex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1 (dmrt1), follicle-stimulating hormone beta subunit (fshb) and leptin a (lepa). After exposition, males fed on with the supplemented diet with a commercial probiotic containing P.acidilactici presented an over-expression on three fertility markers comparing to the control group: lepa, dmrt1 and bdnf. These results suggest that P.acidilactici has a potential use as probiotic supplement in zebrafish diet for the improvement of molecular parameters in testicular cells, indicating that probiotic supplementation could affect male reproductive performance.