Androgenic function in testis from rats fed different commercial oils : correlation with free radicals.

HURTADO DE CATALFO G; TACCONI DE ALANIZ M J; MARRA C A

Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Congreso; XLIII Reunion Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular; 2007

Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular- SAIB

We studied the fatty acyl composition, testosterone (T) biosynthesis, and 3-HSD enzyme activity in Wistar rats fed on diets supplemented with commercial oils (C: coconut, S: soybean, O: olive, and G: grape-seed) for 60 days. Various oxidative stress biomarkers were also determined. S- or  G- supplemented diets incremented protein carbonyls, TBARS, [NOx], conjugated dienes and ROOHs. Protein thiols, a-tocopherol and total antioxidant capacity (FRAP) were significantly decreased  in testicular homogenates. C and O diets produced the opposite effects, being O the less pro-oxidant supplement. Unsaturation indexes in phospholipids were decreased in the order G>S>O>C; however, testicular PUFA levels were maintained in all diets except C in which a slight deficiency was observed. Changes were correlated with T levels (plasma and testicular homogenates) showing C or O groups the highest values for LH and FSH plasma levels. Activities of androgenic enzymes were inversely proportional to the oxidative stress condition generated by each diet. In vitro generation of free radicals (ACCN or Fe/ascorbate) demonstrated that both enzymes were inhibited by over production of ROS. In conclusion, we demonstrated that dietary lipids modify both, T biosynthesis and the balance between androgens and gonadotrophines.  These effects were likely to occur due to overproduction of ROS derived from the lipid metabolism and subsequent inactivation of the key androgenic enzymes.