A decrease of docosahexaenoic acid in testes of mice fed a high-fat diet is associated with impaired sperm acrosome reaction and fertility

Abstract

Obesity is a major worldwide health problem that is related to most chronic diseases, including male infertility. Owing to its wide impact on health, mechanisms underlying obesity-related infertility remain unknown. In this study, we report that mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for over 2 months showed reduced fertility rates and increased germ cell apoptosis, seminiferous tubule degeneration, and decreased intratesticular estradiol (E2) and E2-to-testosterone ratio. Interestingly, we also detected a decrease in testicular fatty acid levels, behenic acid (C22:0), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), which may be related to the production of dysfunctional spermatozoa. Overall, we did not detect any changes in the frequency of seminiferous tubule stages, sperm count, or rate of in vitro capacitation. However, there was an increase in spontaneous and progesterone-induced acrosomal exocytosis (acrosome reaction) in spermatozoa from HFD-fed mice. These data suggest that a decrease in E2 and fatty acid levels influences spermatogenesis and some steps of acrosome biogenesis that will have consequences for fertilization. Thus, our results add new evidence about the adverse effect of obesity in male reproduction and suggest that the acrosomal reaction can also be affected under this condition.

Reviving vacuum-dried encapsulated ram spermatozoa via ICSI after 2 years of storage

“…Our study also found a positive relationship between DPA and disrupted acrosome rate. The same condition was revealed in mice, where a decrease in DPA was associated with impaired acrosome reaction, resulting in negative consequences for fertilization ( 41 ).…”

Male infertility risk and gut microbiota: a Mendelian randomization study

“…(Patterson et al, 2014). The fatty acids level (Bunay et al, 2021), especially DHA, are associated with spermatogenesis (Hale et al, 2019). A high-fat diet (HFD) induces disruption of the gut microbiome, as reflected by decreases in Bacteroides and increases in Firmicutes and Aspergillus in mice models (Hildebrandt et al, 2009;Graham et al, 2015).…”

“…Research indicates that the different types of diet patterns based on saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids may induce alterations in gut microbiota composition (Patterson et al, 2014 ). The fatty acids level (Bunay et al, 2021 ), especially DHA, are associated with spermatogenesis (Hale et al, 2019 ). A high-fat diet (HFD) induces disruption of the gut microbiome, as reflected by decreases in Bacteroides and increases in Firmicutes and Aspergillus in mice models (Hildebrandt et al, 2009 ; Graham et al, 2015 ).…”

Aerobic exercises regulate the epididymal anion homeostasis of high-fat diet-induced obese rats through TRPA1-mediated Cl− and HCO3− secretion

“…Although not all obese male individuals necessarily have impaired reproductive ability, the clinical data showed that nearly 80% of male patients with reproductive disorders are classified as overweight or obesity [ 10 ]. Obesity adversely affects male reproduction, including spermatogenesis in the testis and the subsequent sperm maturation process in the epididymis, leading to decreased sperm concentration, abnormal morphology of the sperm, impaired sperm motility and fertilizing capacity [ 3 , 37 , 38 ]. Previous studies reported that obesity affected the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–testis axis, thus damaging spermatogenesis [ 39 , 40 ].…”