Modulatory effects of ghrelin on sperm quality alterations induced by a fructose-enriched diet.

RAMÍREZ N; LUQUE EM; JONES XM; TORRES PJ; MOREIRA ESPINOZA MJ; CANTARELLI V; PONZIO MF; ARJA A; RABAGLINO B; MARTINI AC

Heliyon

Elsevier BV

Año: 2019 vol. 5 p. 202886 - 202886

2405-8440

The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the effects of a fructose enriched diet (FED) on rat sperm quality, epididymal function (i.e. oxidative stress and alpha-glucosidase expression) and testosterone concentrations; 2) to determine if the administration of ghrelin (Ghrl), reverses the effects induced by FED. After validating the protocol as an inductor of metabolic syndrome like-symptoms, adult male rats were assigned to one of the following treatments for 8 weeks: FED=10% fructose enriched in water (v/v); FED+Ghrl=fructose enriched diet plus Ghrl (6 nmol/animal/day, s.c.) from week 6 to 8; or C=water without fructose (n=5-10 animals/group).FED significantly decreased sperm concentration and motile sperm count/ml vs C (FED: 19.0±1.6x106sperm/ml and 834.6±137.0, respectively vs C: 25.8±2.8x106 and 1300.4±202.4, respectively; p