Obesity impairs male fertility through long-term effects on spermatogenesis

BMC Urology

Fang Zhou¹  Yi-Qun Gu¹  Kai-Shu Zhang¹  Ying Guo¹  Yan-Fei Jia²  Qian Feng²  Xiao-Wei Liang³  Xiao-Wei Wang³  Wen-Hong Lu³  Zheng-Yan Ge⁴ 

[1] Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College;Lanzhou University Second Hospital;National Health and Family Planning Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Health, Department of Male Clinical Research, National Research Institute for Family Planning;Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine;

关键词: Obesity;    Spermatogenesis;    Sex hormone-binding globulin;    Testosterone;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12894-018-0360-5

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect and possible underlying mechanisms of high-fat diet-induced obesity on spermatogenesis in male rats. Methods A total of 45 male rats were randomly divided into control (n = 15, normal diet) and obesity groups (n = 30, high-fat diet) and were fed for 16 weeks. Body weight and organ indexes were determined after sacrifice. Indicators of reproductive function, including sperm count, sperm motility, apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, and oxidative stress levels, were measured. Serum metabolic parameters and reproductive hormones were also assayed. Results Compared with the control group, epididymal sperm motility in the obese rats was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Morphological analysis of the obesity group showed vacuolar changes in seminiferous tubules, spermatogenic cell dysfunction, and increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in testicular tissue (P < 0.05). The calculated free testosterone (cFT) concentration in serum was decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) level was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration decreased and the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased in testis tissues; however, neither changes were statistically significant (P > 0.05). Results Nutritional obesity can damage spermatogenesis in male rats due to long-term effects on spermatogenesis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown