Abstract

Recent evidences have linked abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia to male infertility. Since a defective energy metabolism may play an important role in the impairment of sperm quality, the aim of this study is to investigate the sperm energetic metabolism in rats fed with a high-fat diet, an animal model associated with metabolic syndrome development. Sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups and fed for 4 weeks a standard diet (control group) or a diet enriched in 35% of fat (high fat group). Liver and adipose tissue weight, plasma glucose, insulin, and lipid concentrations were determined. Activities of enzymes involved in sperm energetic metabolism were evaluated by spectrophotometric assays. Sperm mitochondrial respiratory activity was evaluated with a polarographic assay of oxygen consumption. The administration of a high-fat diet caused a significant increase in body weight of rats and provoked hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia. In these animals, we also observed a reduction in sperm concentration and motility. The investigation of sperm energetic metabolism in animals fed a high-fat diet revealed an impairment in the activity of pyruvate and lactate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and respiratory chain complexes. A parallel reduction in the cellular levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and an increase in oxidative damage were also observed. A defective energy metabolism may play an important role in the impairment of sperm quality in the high-fat diet fed rats.

Autore Pugliese

• Zara Vincenzo , Ferramosca Alessandra

Tutti gli autori

• Ferramosca A. , Conte A. , Moscatelli N. , Zara V.

Titolo volume/Rivista

ANDROLOGY

Anno di pubblicazione

2016

ISSN

2047-2927

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

6

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

22/04/2018

Numero di citazioni Scopus

9

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

24/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile