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Microorganisms
Volume 13
Issue 8
10.3390/microorganisms13081751
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Changes in L-Carnitine Metabolism Affect the Gut Microbiome and Influence Sexual Behavior Through the Gut–Testis Axis

by
Polina Babenkova
1,
Artem I. Gureev
1,
Irina S. Sadovnikova
1,
Inna P. Burakova
2,
Yuliya Smirnova
2,
Svetlana Pogorelova
2,
Polina Morozova
2,
Viktoria Gribovskaya
1,
Dianna Adzhemian
1 and
Mikhail Syromyatnikov
2,*
1
Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia
2
Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technology, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(8), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081751
Submission received: 21 March 2025 / Revised: 26 June 2025 / Accepted: 23 July 2025 / Published: 26 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Gut Microbiota)
Versions Notes

Abstract

L-carnitine and Mildronate are substances that can significantly rearrange the energy metabolism of cells. This can potentially cause changes in the bacterial composition of the gut microbiome and affect testis functionality and male sexual health. Mice of the C57Bl/6 line were used. Sexual behavior was assessed using physiological tests, and gene expression patterns were assessed by qPCR. High-throughput sequencing of mouse fecal microbiota was performed. We showed that long-term administration of Mildronate has no significant effect on the intestinal microbiome, and there was a compensatory increase in the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and leptin metabolism. No impairment of sexual motivation in male mice was observed. Prolonged L-carnitine supplementation caused a decrease in alpha diversity of bacteria and a decrease in some groups of microorganisms that are components of a healthy gut microflora. A correlation was observed between the level of bacteria from Firmicutes phylum, indicators of sexual motivation of mice, and the dynamics of body weight gain. Our results may indicate that metabolic modulators can have a significant impact on the structure of the bacterial community of the gut microbiome, which may influence male sexual health through the gut–semen axis.
Keywords: L-carnitine; Mildronate; gut–seed axis; gut microbiome; male fertility L-carnitine; Mildronate; gut–seed axis; gut microbiome; male fertility

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MDPI and ACS Style

Babenkova, P.; Gureev, A.I.; Sadovnikova, I.S.; Burakova, I.P.; Smirnova, Y.; Pogorelova, S.; Morozova, P.; Gribovskaya, V.; Adzhemian, D.; Syromyatnikov, M. Changes in L-Carnitine Metabolism Affect the Gut Microbiome and Influence Sexual Behavior Through the Gut–Testis Axis. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 1751. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081751

AMA Style

Babenkova P, Gureev AI, Sadovnikova IS, Burakova IP, Smirnova Y, Pogorelova S, Morozova P, Gribovskaya V, Adzhemian D, Syromyatnikov M. Changes in L-Carnitine Metabolism Affect the Gut Microbiome and Influence Sexual Behavior Through the Gut–Testis Axis. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(8):1751. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081751

Chicago/Turabian Style

Babenkova, Polina, Artem I. Gureev, Irina S. Sadovnikova, Inna P. Burakova, Yuliya Smirnova, Svetlana Pogorelova, Polina Morozova, Viktoria Gribovskaya, Dianna Adzhemian, and Mikhail Syromyatnikov. 2025. "Changes in L-Carnitine Metabolism Affect the Gut Microbiome and Influence Sexual Behavior Through the Gut–Testis Axis" Microorganisms 13, no. 8: 1751. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081751

APA Style

Babenkova, P., Gureev, A. I., Sadovnikova, I. S., Burakova, I. P., Smirnova, Y., Pogorelova, S., Morozova, P., Gribovskaya, V., Adzhemian, D., & Syromyatnikov, M. (2025). Changes in L-Carnitine Metabolism Affect the Gut Microbiome and Influence Sexual Behavior Through the Gut–Testis Axis. Microorganisms, 13(8), 1751. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081751

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