title: Metabolic syndrome-associated sperm alterations in an experimental rabbit model: relation with metabolic profile, testis and epididymis gene expression and effect of tamoxifen treatment.
abstract: The influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on sperm quality and function is debated. Using a well-established high fat diet (HFD) rabbit model resembling human MetS, including development of hypogonadism, we demonstrate that HFD decreased sperm motility, morphology and acrosome reaction in response to progesterone and increased sperm cholesterol content. All the above parameters were associated with most MetS features, its severity and plasma testosterone (T) at univariate analysis. After T adjustment, sperm morphology and motility retained a significant association, respectively, with mean arterial pressure and circulating cholesterol levels. MetS modified the expression of inflammatory and tissue remodelling genes in the testis and of aquaporins in the epididymis. In a multivariate analysis, sperm morphology resulted associated with testis expression of fibronectin and collagen type 1 genes, whereas motility with epididymis aquaporin 1 gene. Administration of tamoxifen, used in the treatment of idiopathic male infertility, to HFD rabbits partially restored motility, but further decreased morphology and increased spontaneous acrosome reaction, without restoring responsiveness to progesterone. Overall our results indicate that development of MetS produces detrimental effects on sperm quality and functionality by inducing metabolic disorders leading to alterations in testis and epididymis functions and evidence a role of hypertension as a new determinant of abnormal sperm morphology, in line with a previous human study from our group.
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchiani
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vignozzi
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Laboratory of Functional and Cellular Pharmacology of Reproduction, Departments of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gurrieri
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comeglio
authors.affiliation: Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danza
authors.affiliation: Mass Spectrometry Centre (CISM), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.baldi@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051398:Aquaporin 1 / Q000235:genetics; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D065171:Estrogen Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D065171:Estrogen Receptor Antagonists; D005353:Fibronectins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D051398:Aquaporin 1; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Epididymis; Metabolic syndrome; Sperm quality; Tamoxifen; Testis