Metabolomic differences of seminal plasma between boars with high and low average conception rates after artificial insemination

Abstract Seminal plasma is a complex biological fluid containing many metabolites including amino acids, fructose, carbohydrates and lipids Metabolites play important roles in multiple biological processes, but details and significance of the seminal plasma metabolome related to boar fertility are unknown. The aim of the present study was to compare the comprehensive metabolome of seminal plasma from boars with different conception rate after artificial insemination and to identify the potential biomarkers. Semen samples were collected from boars which divided into two groups according to the conception rates in the offspring. Seminal plasma metabolites were isolated, purified, and then subjected to Ultra‐high Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Quadrupole Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC‐qTOF‐MS) procession. A total of 576 (Positive ion mode) and 377 (Negative ion mode) metabolites were identified in seminal plasma. Metabolites were identified and categorized according to their major chemical classes, including carboxylic acids and derivatives, organooxygen compounds, amino acids, peptides, and alogues, fatty amides, fatty acyls, benzene and substituted derivatives, purine nucleotides, pyrimidine nucleotides, glycosyl compounds, fatty acids and conjugates. The results showed that 4‐Aminobenzoate, Pro‐Asn, Ile‐Tyr, Homoveratric acid and D‐Biotin were higher in semen of boar with higher conception rate (HG) versus lower conception rate (LG) ( p < .05), whereas L‐Serine, Butoxyacetic acid, S‐Methyl‐5'‐thioadenosine, Capsaicin and 1‐O‐(cis‐9‐Octadecenyl)‐2‐O‐acetyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (PAF) were lower in HG than in LG ( p < .05). These metabolites may be considered as candidate biomarkers for different fertility in boars.