Exercise improves testicular morphology and oxidative stress parameters in rats with testicular damage induced by a high-fat diet

Elmas M., Ozakpinar O. B., Kolgazi M., Sener G., Arbak S., Ercan F.

ANDROLOGIA, cilt.54, sa.11, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 54 Sayı: 11
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/and.14600
  • Dergi Adı: ANDROLOGIA
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: blood testis barrier, exercise, high-fat diet, oxidative stress, ultrastructure
  • Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Obesity and male infertility are problems that affect population. Exercise is a nonpharmacological way to reduce the negative health effects of obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise on hormone levels, blood-testis barrier, and inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers in rats that became obese due to a high-fat diet (HFD). Male rats received a standard diet (STD group) or a HFD (HFD group) for 18 weeks. During the final 6 weeks of the experiment, swimming exercises (1 h/5 days/week) were given to half of these animals (STD + EXC and HFD + EXC groups). Finally, blood and testicular tissues were analysed by biochemical and histological methods. Body weight, leptin, malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, TNF-alpha and myeloperoxidase levels, apoptotic cells and DNA fragmentation were increased, and testis weight, insulin, FSH, LH, testosterone, glutathione and superoxide dysmutase levels, proliferative cells, ZO-1, occludin, and gap junction protein Cx43 immunoreactivity were decreased in the HFD group. All these hormonal, morphological, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers were enhanced in the HFD + EXC group. It is thought that exercise protected testicular cytotoxicity by regulating hormonal and oxidant/antioxidant balances and testicular function, inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis, as well as preserving blood-testis barrier.