Ameliorating Effect of Pineapple Juice on the Obesity-Induced Testicular Impairment in Male Wistar Rat.

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Obesity exerts negative influences on male reproductive capacity via changing the molecular and physical structure of male germ cells. This study was conducted to evaluate the mitigating effects of raw juice of pineapple on obesity-associated testicular impairment in male Wistar rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Rats included the control group (G<sub>I</sub>, n = 6) who received a Normal Diet (ND) and the obese group (G<sub>II</sub>, n = 18) who received a High-Fat Diet (HFD). Obese rats (G<sub>II</sub>) were subdivided into 3 groups (6 rats each): G<sub>II</sub> represents the untreated obesity group that continued to receive HFD with plain Drinking Water (DW), G<sub>III</sub> received ND along with raw juice (15% v/v) in DW and G<sub>IV</sub> continued to receive HFD with raw juice (15% v/v) in DW. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the trial and testis was processed for histopathology and immunohistochemistry. <b>Results:</b> Testis from obese rats revealed a significant increment in spermatogenic cell degeneration, pro-inflammatory Nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κB) and pro-apoptotic Caspase-3 immunoreactivities. Yet, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) displayed poor immunoreactivity in obese rats' testis relative to controls. Administration of raw juice of pineapple to obese rats significantly reduced degeneration of spermatogenic cells, NF-κB and Caspase-3 immunoreactivities. Additionally, treatment with the juice significantly increased immunoreactivity to PCNA in obese rats. These ameliorating effects were more obvious in rats who received juice along with ND (G<sub>III</sub>) than in those who received it along with HFD (G<sub>IV</sub>). <b>Conclusion:</b> Treatment of obese rats with pineapple juice restored testicular homeostasis, indicating its potential validity to overcome obesity-induced male fertility disorders.