Obesity induced by cafeteria diet disrupts fertility in the rat by affecting multiple ovarian targets

BAZZANO MARÍA VICTORIA; TORELLI CAROLINA; PUSTOVRH MARÍA CAROLINA; PAZ DANTE AGUSTÍN; ELIA EVELIN MARIEL

REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE LTD

Año: 2015

1472-6483

Obesity constitutes a health problem of increasing worldwide prevalence. Among the health detriments caused by obesity, reproduction is also disrupted. However, the mechanisms involved in this disruption are not fully understood. Animals fed a cafeteria diet (CAF) constitute the model for the study of obesity that most closely reflects Western diet habits. The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether CAF affects ovarian function and to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved. For that purpose, 22-day-old female Wistar rats were fed ad libitum with either a standard diet (control group; n=20) or CAF (CAF group; n=20). CAF induced obesity and hyperglycemia, without altering serum triglycerides, cholesterol or C-reactive protein levels. This diet also altered the ovarian function because the rats showed prolonged dioestrous phases, decreased serum oestradiol levels and increased number of antral atretic follicles. Moreover, follicular cysts were detected in the CAF group, concomitantly with a decrease in the number of AMH immunoreactive pre-antral follicles and COX-2-positive antral and preovulatory follicles. We concluded that CAF reduces the ovarian reserve, induces the presence of follicular cysts and disturbs the ovulatory process, leading to the delayed pregnancy observed in these animals.