Effect of olive oil diet supplementation on semen quality in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

BOARELLI P V; SAEZ LANCELOTTI E; ESPINOLA S; CID BARRIA J; FORNES M.W.

San Luis, ARgentina

Congreso; Reunión Anual Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2009

SBCuyo-Ministerio de Salud, Gobierno de Mendoza

Olive oil (OO), the principal fat of Mediterranean Diet, is known to benefit hypercholesterolemia (HC), a recognized risk factor of cardiovascular desease. We have previously found that hypercholesterolemic rabbits (HCR) have poor semen quality, and hypothetize that OO supplementation might improve sperm phisiology and semen parameters affected by high saturated-fat consumption. HCR were developed by diet containing 0.05% cholesterol (chol), and were protected by the addition of 7% OO. HCR presented lower seminal volume and reduced sperm motility. Sperm acrosome was enriched with chol and this cell was unable to resist hypo-osmotic media stress. Moreover, we characterized some morphological alterations in spermatozoa from HCR. Functionally, these cells displayed deficiencies in capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR), both regulated by chol loss from membrane. Addition of protein kinase A (PKA) pathway activators, (db-cAMP e IBMX) to the medium restored capacitation, supporting our theory of membrane damage. OO  diet supplementation lowered cholesterolemia and improved seminal volume. At cellular level, membrane chol significantly decreased and motility as well as AR enhanced improved. In conclusion, a diet rich in OO improved seminal parameters seriously affected by HC in rabbits.