title: Protective effect of doxycycline on germinal epithelial loss caused by a high-fat diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A high-fat diet and male obesity are aspects associated with germinal epithelial alterations and male infertility. Some reports have shown that certain tetracyclines can protect the germinal epithelium from toxic drugs. The aim of the present study design was to evaluate the possible effect of doxycycline on testicular germ cells in individuals fed a Western diet (atherogenic), using a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of male mice (BALB/c) were fed a high-fat Western diet (HFD). One of these two groups was given doxycycline at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day (HFD+Dox). A third group was fed a standard rodent diet (SD group). After 6 months, the mice were euthanized and morphologic and histopathologic analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Germinal epithelial height was similar between the SD group (54 μm) and the HFD+Dox group (53 μm) (p = 0.26), and it was significantly reduced in the HFD group (47 μm) (p = 0.0001). The degree of germinal epithelial loss (DGEL) was significantly lower in the SD (10) and HFD+Dox (12.5) groups than in the HFD group (30) (p = 0.0001 and =0.007, respectively). There were no differences in the DGEL between the SD and HFD+Dox groups (p = 0.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doxycycline administration was shown to prevent germinal epithelial loss in the testes of mice fed a high-fat diet. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical usefulness of doxycycline or its analogs in persons with a habitual high-fat diet.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Colima, Av. Universidad 333, colonia las víboras, CP 28040, Colima, Colima, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delgado-Enciso
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Rivera
authors.forename: M Violeta M
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Madrigal-Pérez
authors.forename: Alejandrina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Hernandez
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lugo-Radillo
authors.forename: Hector R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Galvan-Salazar
authors.forename: Alejandro D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Soriano-Hernández
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez-Tapia
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martinez-Martinez
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Valdez-Velazquez
authors.forename: Oscar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Newton-Sanchez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Alvarez
authors.forename: Iram P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Sanchez
authors.forename: Valery
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Melnikov
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lara-Esqueda
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guzman-Esquivel
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline