Dietary lipids modify redox homeostasis and steroidogenic status in rat testis.
OBJECTIVE
The present study explored the effect of dietary oils on lipid composition, antioxidant status, and the activity of the main steroidogenic enzymes in the testis.


METHODS
Forty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 10) fed for 60 d on the same basal diet plus different lipid sources as commercial oils: soybean, olive, coconut, or grapeseed. After sacrifice, testicular lipids and fatty acid composition, free radical biomarkers, antioxidant levels, hormones, and steroidogenic enzymes were determined.


RESULTS
The lipid composition of diets produced significant changes in neutral/phospholipids, free/esterified cholesterol, and plasmalogen proportion. Fatty acid patterns of these lipids were also strongly modified, influencing the double bond index. We also found a close correlation between the type of diet and the generation of free radicals. The oxidative stress in testes was higher with the grapeseed oil-supplemented diet and decreased with the other diets in this order: soybean oil > olive oil > coconut oil. Animals fed with the olive oil and coconut oil diets showed the highest testicular levels of antioxidants in addition to significantly high levels of testosterone and 3beta- or 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes.


CONCLUSIONS
Different oils in the diets strongly modified the homeostasis of the testicular antioxidant defense system and, in consequence, affected steroidogenic function, showing a clear correlation with the damage induced. According to our results, an appropriate mixture of olive and soybean oils could be a healthy recommendation.
Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata, CONICET-UNLP, Cátedra de Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
Graciela E
GE
Hurtado de Catalfo
María J T
MJ
de Alaniz
Carlos A
CA
Marra
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000074263:Coconut Oil; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D013739:Testosterone; D013024:Soybean Oil; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000074263:Coconut Oil