Tenebrio molitor larvae extract prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced implantation failure in pigs

As an edible insect, the mealworm (Tenebrio molitor, TM) is recognized for its high protein content and various bioactive compounds that are expected to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In swine production, enhancing endometrial receptivity and promoting successful implantation are critical for increasing litter size. However, factors such as inflammation caused by infection can sometimes hinder this process. The protective effects of mealworm-defatted extract (TM-DF) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endometrial receptivity and implantation failure in swine have not yet been investigated. Therefore, we established an LPS-induced inflammation model using porcine luminal epithelial (pLE) cells obtained from early stage pregnant pigs, and investigated the protective effects of TM-DF against implantation failure. TM-DF pre-treatment significantly restored pLE cell viability, which was compromised by LPS exposure. TM-DF exhibited a strong protective effect by mitigating the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and preventing the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), maintaining mitochondrial integrity. In addition to these antioxidant effects, TM-DF pre-treatment effectively attenuated the LPS-induced upregulation of heat stress markers (HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins (GRP78 and PERK) and attenuated their expression to normal physiological levels. TM-DF preserves the proliferative capacity of pLE cells by buffering cellular stress responses and protecting mitochondrial function through its bioactive activity. This study suggests that TM-DF is a promising therapeutic candidate for preventing LPS-induced endometrial dysfunction and implantation failure in pigs.