Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40251294›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Protective effects of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 against cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive dysfunction in zebrafish.

Yao Dong, Jiazhi Zhou, Hairui Tian, Zhonghui Gai, Kang Zou, Quanwei Wei, Mei Han

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Microorganisms · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yao DongGermline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Jiazhi ZhouDepartment of Research and Development, Wecare Probiotics Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215200, China.
Hairui TianGermline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Zhonghui GaiDepartment of Research and Development, Wecare Probiotics Co., Ltd., Suzhou, 215200, China.
Kang ZouGermline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
Quanwei Wei *Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China. weiquanwei@njau.edu.cn.
Mei Han *Department of Food Quality and Safety, Shanghai Business School, Shanghai, 200235, China. hanmei.918521@163.com.

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities KYT2023002Shanghai Pujiang Program 24PJD081
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 on reproductive health in zebrafish (Danio rerio), focusing on hormonal modulation, sperm vitality, and overall reproductive function improvement. Adult male zebrafish of the wild-type AB strain were divided into four groups: control (CTL), model control with cyclophosphamide-induced oligospermia (CS), probiotic-treated (BL21), and a positive control treated with clomiphene citrate (CC). All groups, except CTL, were exposed to cyclophosphamide from day 1 to day 9 to induce reproductive dysfunction, with subsequent monitoring until day 16. Key metrics assessed included body and testicular weight, sperm vitality, male courtship behavior, hormone levels, sperm DNA fragmentation, and gene expression of PCNA, NANOG, ZBTB16, mTOR, DDX4, CYP26A1, and ALDH1A2. In this study, BL21 demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in treating reproductive dysfunction in zebrafish. Metabolomic analysis revealed that BL21 influenced crucial pathways, notably upregulating mTOR signaling and isoflavone biosynthesis, while downregulating the TCA cycle and pyruvate metabolism, suggesting a broad biochemical impact. The probiotic treatment notably improved testicular weight (p < 0.01) and sperm count and vitality (p < 0.001) compared to the cyclophosphamide-induced model control, underscoring its efficacy in enhancing reproductive parameters. Additionally, BL21 intervention led to a marked increase in chasing behavior and sex hormone levels, surpassing those of the positive control. The treatment also significantly reduced sperm DNA fragmentation (p < 0.001) and increased the expression of genes crucial for spermatogenesis and testicular function (p < 0.05), confirming its potential to restore reproductive health at multiple biological levels. These results highlight the promise of BL21 as a multi-faceted agent for improving reproductive health, warranting further investigation in clinical settings. Probiotic BL21 enhances reproductive parameters in zebrafish by modulating hormone levels, improving sperm quality, and positively affecting reproductive behavior. These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications of probiotics in managing reproductive health issues.

Indexed as

Bifidobacterium longumCyclophosphamideOligospermiaProbioticsReproductionAnimalsDNA FragmentationMaleSpermatogenesisSpermatozoaTestisZebrafishCyclophosphamideHormonal modulationMale infertilityProbioticSperm vitalityZebrafish (Danio rerio)

Identifiers

PMID40251294
PMCPMC12008403

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.