Obestatin and l-carnitine as a defensive strategy against fertility disorders induced by obesity in male rats

Abstract

Aim This study was designed to investigate the usage of obestatin (OB) and l-carnitine (LC) as a defensive strategy against fertility disorders induced by obesity in male rats. Materials and methods The study was carried out on 50 male Wistar rats, which were divided into five groups as follows: the control group, untreated obese rats, obese rats treated with OB, obese rats treated with LC, and obese rats treated with both OB and LC. Results The induction of obesity resulted in significant increase in body weight, plasma level of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance as compared with the control group. In addition, it produced significant lower activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant enzymes (GHP-Px) in testicular tissue. There was reduced plasma testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and decreased sperm count and motility. OB significantly lowers body weight, plasma levels triglyceride, total cholesterol, low--density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and testicular thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level. These changes were coupled with significant increase in antioxidant enzymes activities in testicular tissue with significant increase in testosterone plasma level and sperm count and motility. This was accompanied by insignificant increase in plasma follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. LC produced similar but better changes in all parameters except body weight. Moreover, the concomitant administration of both OB and LC to obese rats resulted in more improvement in all parameters than that were noticed in group III or IV. Conclusion The results of the study verified the possible combined use of OB and LC as a defensive strategy against fertility disorders induced by obesity. OB has the upper hand as anorexigenic agent, whereas LC is superior against obesity as a case of secondary hypogonadism.