Abstract
Male infertility is mostly due to low sperm quality, which accounts for about 50% of the causes of infertility. The reasons for low sperm quality are still unclear. Nowadays, many drinks contain high levels of fat, and its effect on fertility is not yet known. To investigate the effect of cholesterol-containing water on male fertility. Forty BALB/c male mice were divided into 2 groups: the control group and the water-induced obesity (WIO) group. Body and testicular weights were recorded and analyzed statistically. Testicular tissues were examined. Serum contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), free testosterone (FT), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined. Motility count and morphology of sperm were analyzed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for SYCP3, VEGFA and WT1 genes. The results showed that the WIO group presented the highly significant values for mice body and testis weight, and TC, TG and LDL level in serum (p < 0.05), when compared to the control group. The level of FT, LH and FSH in serum was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the WIO group compared with the control group. Seminiferous tubules of testes became thin, and Sertoli cells showed mild atrophy in this group. Also, the count and motility of sperm significantly reduced while the ratio of sperm abnormalities significantly increased in the WIO group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The results of RT-PCR showed that SYCP3, VEGFA and WT1 genes were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05) in the WIO group compared with the control group. This study indicated that drinks containing high levels of fat may have negative effects on male fertility due to the reduction of the sexual hormones level in serum, the expression of SYCP3, VEGFA and WT1 genes, count and motility of sperm, as well as an increase in sperm abnormalities and pathological changes in the testicular tissues.
Highlights
Male infertility is mostly due to low sperm quality, which accounts for about 50% of the causes of infertility
The results showed that the water-induced obesity (WIO) group presented the highly significant values for mice body and testis weight, and total cholesterol (TC), TG and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level in serum (p < 0.05), when compared to the control group
The level of free testosterone (FT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in serum was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the WIO group compared with the control group
Summary
Male infertility is mostly due to low sperm quality, which accounts for about 50% of the causes of infertility. The synaptonemal complex (SC) holds homologous chromosomes during the prophase of the first meiotic division[1] and is essential for synapsis and meiotic recombination.[2] Meiotic failure, infertility and embryonic death of mice occur due to the disruption of SC formation.[3] The defective construction of SC correlates with miscarriage, infertility and Down’s syndrome in humans.[4] The SYCP3 gene is the main constituent of the SC and plays a vital role in the meiosis of spermatogenesis, as well as fertility and homologous chromosome pairing in males.[5] Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) has been expressed in semen, seminal vesicles, prostate, and normal testis.[6] The VEGFA is vital for blood vessel development and endothelial cell migration. It has an important role in ovarian follicle development[9] and spermatogenesis.[10]
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