N-acetylcysteine may improve endometrial receptivity by modulating endometrial stromal cells in goats

Abstract. Endometrial receptivity is essential for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance, and the achievement of normal physiological function of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) is an important factor in the establishment of receptivity. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was found to be beneficial as a small-molecule antioxidant for improving animal reproductive performance, but it is unclear whether NAC can improve receptivity by modulating ESCs in goats. In this study, we successfully isolated and cultured the ESCs of Qianbei Ma goats, used different concentrations of NAC to culture the ESCs of Qianbei Ma goats, and explored the effects of NAC on the biological functions of the ESCs of Qianbei Ma goats by using CCK-8, qRT-PCR, ELISA and flow cytometry. The results showed that 200 µmol L−1 NAC may promote the proliferation of ESCs in Qianbei Ma goats by increasing the expression of PCNA, Cyclin D2 (P<0.01) and Cyclin E (P<0.05) mRNAs. Meanwhile, 200 µmol L−1 NAC increased the cell viability (P<0.01) and enhanced the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities (P<0.01) of ESCs in Qianbei Ma goats. In addition, 200 µmol L−1 NAC increased the mitochondrial membrane potential of ESCs (P<0.01). Notably, 200 µmol L−1 NAC promoted the expression of the mRNA of the endometrial receptivity marker genes HOXA10, PTGS2, PGR (P<0.01) and LIF (P<0.05). Thus, our results suggest that NAC may benefit the establishment of endometrial receptivity in goats by regulating the proliferation, antioxidant properties, mitochondrial membrane potential and expression of endometrial receptivity marker genes in goat ESCs.