Prenatal and/or postnatal high-fat diet alters testicular parameters in adult Wistar Albino rats

Abstract

Here, we evaluated the effects of a high-fat diet during the prenatal and/or postnatal period on the metabolic parameters and testes of 4-month-old Wistar rats. The experimental groups, composed of male Wistar rats, were: C/C (n=8), HF/HF (n=8) (pups with the same diet as their dams, after weaning), C/HF (n=8), and HF/C (n=9) (pups with a different diet after weaning, from that of their dams). The biometric parameters, blood glucose levels, serum levels, the gonadosomatic index, sperm parameters, testes, and genital fat deposits were evaluated. The HDL-c serum levels were significantly lower in the C/HF group (P=0.0100), whereas animals in the HF/C group presented hypertriglyceridemia (P=0.0005). The sperm concentration was lower in the HF/HF group than in the HF/C group (P=0.0072), and sperm viability was lower in all groups receiving a high-fat diet (P<0.0001). The tubular compartment was the smallest in the HF/HF group (P<0.0001). The diameter of the seminiferous tubule was the widest in the HF/C group (P<0.0001). The height of the seminiferous epithelium in all groups was lower than that in the C/C group (P<0.0001). Testosterone and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) expression levels were lower in the C/HF group (P=0.0218 and P=0.0215, respectively). The HF diet, regardless of the administration period, induced a limited number of metabolic changes, and modifications in the histoarchitecture of the testes and sperm parameters. These data suggest that a HF diet may cause disturbances in spermatogenesis and fertility impairment in adulthood.