Effect of intensive exercise-induced testicular gametogenic and steroidogenic disorders in mature male Wistar strain rats: a correlative approach to oxidative stress.
OBJECTIVE
In order to investigate the effects of intensive exercise on reproductive dysfunctions in relation to oxidative stress, a total of 12 male rats (age: 3 months, weight: 127 +/- 2.86 g) were randomly divided into: (1) control group (CG, n = 6) and (2) experimental group (Exp. G, n = 6).


METHODS
An exercise protocol of 3 h swimming day(-1), 5 days week(-1) was followed for 4 weeks in Exp. G, with no exercise in CG. All the animals were killed; blood, testes and the accessory sex organs were collected for estimation of different parameters.


RESULTS
A significant diminution (P < 0.001) was noted in testicular Delta5, 3beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase (Delta5, 3beta-HSD), 17beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD); plasma levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH); preleptotine spermatocytes (pLSc), midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and stage 7 spermatids (7Sd); with no significant alteration in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and spermatogoia A (Asg) after intensive exercise. A significant elevation (P < 0.001) in malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes (CD) along with significant reduction (P < 0.001) in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and peroxidase were found in testes of Exp. G. Moreover, the somatic index of testes and accessory sex organs were also decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after exercise. High correlations have been found in 17 beta-HSD with CAT (r = 0.90, P < 0.05) and peroxidase (r = 0.83, P < 0.05), epididymal somatic index with CD (r = -0.91; P < 0.05) and GSH (r = 0.84, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study focused an chronic intensive exercise-induced oxidative stress that may cause dysfunctions in male reproductive system including steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.
Manna
I
I
Human Performance Laboratory, Sports Authority of India, J. N. Stadium, New Delhi, India.
Jana
K
K
Samanta
P K
PK
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase