Abstract
Oxidative stress is a harmful factor for male reproductive function, and a major cause of infertility. On the other hand, fermented goat milk has positive effects on anemia recovery and mineral metabolism. This study evaluated the effect of feeding rats with fermented milks during anaemia recovery on molecular mechanisms linked to oxidative stress and inflammatory signalling in rats reproductive system. Forty male Wistar rats were placed on a pre-experimental period of 40 days (control group, receiving normal-Fe diet and Fe-deficient group, receiving low-Fe diet). Lately, rats were fed with fermented goat or cow milk-based diets during 30 days. After feeding the fermented milks, Total antioxidant status (TAS) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 15-F2t-isoprostanes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) decreased in testis. DNA oxidative damage in testis germ cells was lower with fermented goat milk. Fermented goat milk reduced IL-6 and TNF-α in control animals, increasing INF-γ in control and anaemic rats. NRF2 and PGC-1α protein levels increased in testis after fermented goat milk consumption in control and anaemic rats. Fermented goat milk also increased TAS and decreased oxidative damage, protecting the main testis cell bioconstituents (lipids, proteins, DNA, prostaglandins) from oxidative damage and reduced inflammatory activity, preventing injuries to testis germinal epithelium. Fermented goat milk enhanced lipolysis, fatty acids degradation and immune response, attenuating inflammatory signalling, representing a positive growth advantage for testicular cells.
Highlights
Oxidative stress is a harmful factor for male reproductive function, and a major cause of infertility
With regard to the oxidative stress-mediated damage to the main biomolecules, Table 3 shows that after 30 days of feeding the fermented milk-based diets, Total antioxidant status (TAS) was higher in both groups of animals (16% for control and 13% for anaemic) fed fermented goat milk with respect to fermented cow milk (P < 0.05)
No differences were found in protein carbonyl (PC) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) decreased dramatically in anaemic animals fed with fermented goat milk (96%, P < 0.001)
Summary
Oxidative stress is a harmful factor for male reproductive function, and a major cause of infertility. Fermented goat milk increased TAS and decreased oxidative damage, protecting the main testis cell bioconstituents (lipids, proteins, DNA, prostaglandins) from oxidative damage and reduced inflammatory activity, preventing injuries to testis germinal epithelium. Oxidative stress is a really damaging factor for male reproductive function, and it is considered a cause of male infertility due to its deleterious effects on the developing germ cells and sperm function[1], inducing male infertility. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) plays a main role in antioxidant defence, protecting male reproductive tract from oxidative stress. It is known that antioxidants induce a beneficial role for male germ cells, protecting them from apoptosis induced by damaging factors, such as reactive oxygen or nitrogen species[6]. The reasons for this deleterious changes can be attributed to reduced oxygen
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