Alterations in the spermatic function generated by obesity in rats.
In order to assess the effect of obesity on epididymal and germinal epithelia in control rats and obese rats induced by a high fat diet, we evaluated the epididymal and testicular morphologies, lipid peroxidation in the epididymis, leptin serum levels, steroid hormones, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia and some spermatobioscopic parameters. No significant difference was observed in the levels of insulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides between the two groups. Nonetheless, in the obese rats, circulating leptin and estradiol levels showed a significant increase and there was a decline in the testosterone levels. The same group showed an increase in the lipid peroxidation of the epididymis and reduced spermatobioscopic parameters. The heads of the epididymis showed morphological differences in obese rats. No significant difference was observed between the testes of both groups. There is a clear evidence of an effect on sperm in obese rats and this seems to occur in the epididymis.
Vigueras-Villaseñor
Rosa María
RM
Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México D.F., México. marcoviv@servidor.unam.mx
Rojas-Castañeda
Julio César
JC
Chávez-Saldaña
Margarita
M
Gutiérrez-Pérez
Oscar
O
García-Cruz
Mercedes Edna
ME
Cuevas-Alpuche
Osvaldo
O
Reyes-Romero
Marcos Manuel
MM
Zambrano
Elena
E
D000818:Animals; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004822:Epididymis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D004041:Dietary Fats; D020738:Leptin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol