title: Metabolic and testicular effects of the long-term administration of different high-fat diets in adult rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of different high-fat diets on body mass, carbohydrate metabolism and testicular morphology in rats seven months old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: SC (standard chow), HF-S (high fat diet rich in saturated fatty acids), HF-P (high fat diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids), HF-SP (high fat diet rich in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids). The rats were fed for 16 weeks. Blood samples, testes and genital fat deposits were collected for analysis. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test, considering p<0.05 as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different high-fat diets promoted an increase in the body mass (p<0.0001). The genital fat deposits were higher in the high-fat groups (HF-S, HF-P, HF-SP) (p=0.0004). Regarding serum parameters, the animals in the HF-S and HF-SP groups presented hyperglycemia (p=0.0060), hyperinsulinemia (p=0.0030) and hypercholesterolemia (p=0.0021). All of the hyperlipidemic groups showed hyperleptinemia (p=0.0019). Concerning the testis, the HF-S group showed a reduction on the seminiferous epithelium height (p=0.0003) and cell proliferation (p=0.0450). Seminiferous tubule diameter was lower in the HF-SP than in the SC group (p=0.0010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high fat diet administration, independent of the lipid quality, promotes overweight. Diet rich in saturated fatty acids (lard) alters the carbohydrate metabolism and the testicular morphology with reductions of seminiferous epithelium height, seminiferous tubule diameter and cell proliferation which could be related to a disturbance of spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Research Unit, Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pamella
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campos-Silva
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Research Unit, Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furriel
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Research Unit, Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Waldemar S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Research Unit, Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco J B
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Urogenital Research Unit, Biomedical Center, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gregorio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D050177:Overweight / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D013739:Testosterone; D002784:Cholesterol