title: Effects of leptin on sperm count and morphology in Sprague-Dawley rats and their reversibility following a 6-week recovery period.
abstract: Altered epididymal sperm count and morphology following leptin treatment has been reported recently. This study examined the effects of 42 days of leptin treatment on sperm count and morphology and their reversibility during a subsequent 56-day recovery period. Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised into four leptin and four saline-treated control groups (n = 6). Intraperitoneal injections of leptin were given daily (60 μg Kg(-1) body weight) for 42 days. Controls received 0.1 ml of 0.9% saline. Leptin-treated animals and their respective age-matched controls were euthanised on either day 1, 21, 42 or 56 of recovery for collection of epididymal spermatozoa. Sperm concentration was determined using a Makler counting chamber. Spermatozoa were analysed for 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and DNA fragmentation (Comet assay). Data were analysed using anova. Sperm concentration was significantly lower but fraction of abnormal spermatozoa, and levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine were significantly higher in leptin-treated rats on day 1 of recovery. Comet assays revealed significant DNA fragmentation in leptin-treated rats. These differences were reduced by day 56 of recovery. It appears that 42 days of leptin treatment to Sprague-Dawley rats has significant adverse effects on sperm count and morphology that reverse following discontinuation of leptin treatment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Almabhouh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siti Fatimah
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergey
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gnanou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin
keywords: 8-OHdG; DNA fragmentation; leptin; sperm count; sperm morphology