The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ·Na2) supplementation on the reproductive performance and intestinal barrier functions of gestating and lactating female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and their offspring. Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 increased the number of implanted embryos per litter during gestation and lactation at GD 20 and increased the number of viable fetuses per litter, and the weight of uterine horns with fetuses increased at 1 d of newborn. The mRNA expression levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx2), superoxide dismutase (SOD1), solute carrier family 2 member 1 (Slc2a1) and solute carrier family 2 member 3 (Slc2a3) in the placenta were increased with dietary PQQ·Na2 supplementation. Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in gestating and lactating rats increased the CAT, SOD and GPx activities of the jejunal mucosa of weaned rats on PD 21. Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in female rats affected the expression of tight junction proteins (claudin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin) in the jejunal mucosa of their offspring by increasing the expression of ZO-1 mRNA in the expression of ZO-1 and claudin mRNA in the jejunal mucosa of weaned rats on PD 21. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in gestating and lactating female rats had positive effects on their reproductive performance and on the intestinal barrier of weaned rats.
Keywords: CAT catalase; E2 oestradiol; GD gestation day; GPx glutathione peroxidase; LH luteinising hormone; PD postnatal day; PQQ pyrroloquinoline quinone; PQQ·Na2 pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium; PRG progesterone; ROS reactive oxygen species; SOD superoxide dismutase; Slc2a1 solute carrier family 2 member 1; Slc2a3 solute carrier family 2 member 3; ZO-1 zonula occludens-1; Intestinal barrier; Oxidative stress; Pyrroloquinoline quinone; Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium; Reproductive performance.