Spermatotoxic effect of high-fat diet and its attenuation by olive oil administration

TANIA EMILCE LANCELLOTTI; PAOLA VANINA BOARELLI; JOSE CID BARRIA; GABRIELA IGLESIAS; MACARENA CID BARRIA; MIGUEL WALTER FORNES

Mendoza

Congreso; SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGIA DE CUYO. XXVIIi REUNION CIENTIFICA ANUAL 2010; 2010

SBCUYO

Hypercholesterolemia represents a high risk factor for frequent diseases and it has also been associated with poor semen quality that may lead to male infertility. The present study was carried out to evaluate the spermatotoxic effect of fat diet and its amelioration by olive oil in rabbits. When adult White New Zealand male rabbits were fed with saturated fat enriched diet (0.05% cholesterol), alterations in various reproductive parameters were observed: seminal volume and sperm motility were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) when compared to control rabbits. Sperm cell morphology was also affected, and cholesterol was particularly increased in acrosomal region when detected by filipin probe. The rise in cholesterol concentration in sperm cells was determined quantitatively by Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses. We also found a reduction in protein tyrosine phosphorylation in sperm incubated under capacitating conditions from HCR. Finally, the percentage of reacted sperm in the presence of progesterone was significantly decreased. Diet administration of olive oil (7%) along with fat treatment lowered cholesterolemia and caused significant recovery in all the sperm parameters in comparison with fat treated animals. In conclusion, olive oil enriched diet improved seminal parameters adversely affected by hypercholesterolemia in rabbits