Resveratrol promotes mammary cell proliferation and antioxidation capacity during pregnancy and lactation in mice

Reproduction can induce maternal oxidative stress, and resveratrol is able to alleviate oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of resveratrol supplementation in mice during pregnancy and lactation. Pregnant mice were randomly divided into three groups: (i) Pure water (Con); (ii) Cellulose sodium dissolves with 20 mg kg−1 resveratrol (R1) and (iii) Cellulose sodium dissolves with 40 mg kg−1 resveratrol (R2). The experiment starts at pregnancy and ends at weaning. The results showed that resveratrol increased mammary cell proliferation and the mRNA expressions of UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1) and cytochrome P450 proteins (CYP1A1), while decreased superoxide dismutase, extracellular (SOD3) in the mammary gland. Further study showed that resveratrol promoted the mRNA expressions of genes involved in mitophagy, such as transcription factor Eβ (Tfeβ), Bcl1lc3β, homosapiens microtubule‐associated protein 1 light‐chain 3 beta (Map1lc3β), Parkin, sequestosome1 (p62), autophagy‐related protein (Atg5) and Beclin‐1 (Becn1) in the mammary gland. Moreover, resveratrol increased the abundances of some intestinal microbial species. 40 mg kg−1 resveratrol significantly increased the contents of Acidobacteri, unidentified acidbacteria, Bacilales, Staphylococcaceae and Staphylococcus at phylum, class, order, family and genus level respectively. Our results indicate that resveratrol supplementation may promote mammary cell proliferation and antioxidant ability through mitophagy and regulating gut microbiota in pregnant mice. Current study proved that resveratrol could affect mammary cell proliferation and antioxidation capacity during pregnancy and lactation in mice for the first time. The underlying mechanisms may be related to mitophagy and gut microbiota.