Stereological assessment of the effects of vitamin D deficiency on the rat testis

BMC Endocrine Disorders

Forough Saki¹  Farhad Koohpeyma¹  Neda Hatami¹  Ali Zamani² 

[1] Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Nemazee Hospital, Zand Avenue, 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran;Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Nemazee Hospital, Zand Avenue, 7193635899, Shiraz, Iran;Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;

关键词: Vitamin D deficiency;    Testis;    Testosterone;    Rats;    Reproduction;    Stereology;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12902-020-00642-0

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that low vitamin D status may affect male gonadal structure. This study was undertaken to reveal whether vitamin D-deficient rats have demonstrable changes in the quantitative histomorphometric properties of the testis.MethodsIn the present investigation, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and received: group 1) conventional diet; group 2) vitamin D-deficient diet; group 3) vitamin D-deficient diet and paricalcitol and group 4) conventional diet plus paricalcitol. After 3 months, serum levels of vitamin D metabolites, Ca, P, LH, FSH, testosterone, and epididymal sperm quality were evaluated. Moreover, the morphometric characteristics of testis were assessed via stereological methods.ResultsRats fed a vitamin D-deficient diet (groups 2 and 3) were normocalcemic and had 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level below 10 ng/mL. A significant reduction in serum testosterone and comparable gonadotropin levels were seen in vitamin D-deficient groups compared to controls. The concentration, morphology, and motility of sperm cells were profoundly disturbed in animals raised on the vitamin D-deficient diet. There was a significant decline in the population of different germ cells, the volume of interstitial tissue and germinal epithelium in group 2 and 3 rats, which were placed on the vitamin D-deficient diet. No appreciable difference in the estimates of the Leydig or Sertoli cell numbers were observed between groups.ConclusionsThe depletion of vitamin D stores and induction of moderate grades of vitamin D deficiency by dietary measures led to remarkable impairment of spermatogenesis and microscopic architecture of rat testis. These findings can be attributed, at least in part, to decreased androgen production.

【 授权许可】

CC BY