Oleanolic Acid Attenuates Ovarian Aging in Laying Hens via Inhibition of the cGAS–STING Pathway

Ovarian aging is a critical contributor to the decline in reproductive performance in poultry, characterized by diminished folliculogenesis and elevated follicular atresia.Recent studies have identified chronic inflammation and cellular senescence as key drivers of this degenerative process.In this study, we examined the effects of oleanolic acid (OA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, on ovarian aging in laying hens and elucidated its molecular mechanisms of action.Our findings revealed that OA significantly suppressed the expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors and reduced granulosa cell apoptosis.Prolonged OA supplementation markedly improved egg production in aged hens, preserved ovarian architecture, and delayed ovarian functional decline.Mechanistically, OA was found to suppress STING activation and its downstream signaling, thereby attenuating cGAS-STING-mediated