Infertility caused by male factors is potentially associated with
metabolic disorders such as obesity and/or diabetes. This experimental
study was conducted in a male rodent model to assess the effects of
different diseases on semen quality and sperm proteomics. Ten Wistar
rats were used for each treatment. Rats were fed commercial food provided
controllably to the control group and the diabetic group, and a hypercaloric
diet supplemented with 5% sucrose in water was provided ad libitum
to the obese group for 38 weeks. Diabetes was induced with 35 mg/kg
streptozotocin. After euthanasia, testicles, spermatozoa, fat, and
blood (serum) samples were collected. Spermatozoa were evaluated for
quality and subjected to proteomics analyses. Histology and cytology
of the testis, and serum leptin, adiponectin, interleukin 8 (IL-8),
blood glucose, and testosterone levels, were also assessed. Body weight,
retroperitoneal and testicular fat, and the Lee index were also measured.
Obesity and diabetes were induced. The diabetic group showed noticeable
changes in spermatogenesis and sperm quality. The mass spectrometry
proteomics data have been deposited in Mendeley Data (doi: 10.17632/rfp7kfjcsd.5).
Fifteen proteins varied in abundance between groups, especially proteins
related to energy production and structural function of the spermatozoa,
suggesting disturbances in energy production with a subsequent alteration
in sperm motility in both groups, but with a compensatory response
in the obese group.