Objective To investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on reproductive injury induced by high fat diet (HFD) in male rats. Methods 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into the ND group (10% calories from fat), HFD group and HFD+ZnSO4 group (60% calories from fat), with 8 rats in each group. ND rats were given a normal diet, and rats in the HFD and HFD+ZnSO4 groups were given a high fat diet. After 8 weeks of modeling, ND group and HFD group were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage, and HFD+ZnSO4 group was given 25 mg/(kg bw·d) zinc sulfate solution by gavage. The rats were killed at the end of 16 weeks. The fat tissues from the testis and peritestis were weighed, and the sperms from the epididymis tail were taken fresh to detect the total sperm number and motility. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and prolactin (PRL) were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay. The content of zinc in testicular tissue was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The histopathological changes of the testis were observed after HE staining. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of zinc transporters, testosterone synthesis and apoptosis related genes in the testicular tissue. Results Compared with the ND group, body weight, peritestosterone fat weight and Lee's index in the HFD group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly increased, while HDL-C was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The total sperm count and sperm motility were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Serum T level was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Testicular structure was damaged.The mRNA and protein levels of 3β-HSD1, CYP11A1, LHR and STAR were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The total zinc content in the testis was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expressions of zinc transporters ZIP1 and ZIP2 were significantly decreased, and ZnT1 and ZnT8 were significantly increased (P<0.05). The levels of anti-apoptosis markers Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in the testis were decreased, while the levels of apoptosis markers Bax, Caspase-9, Caspase-12 mRNA and protein were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the HFD group, body weight, peritestosterone fat weight and Lee's index in the HFD+ZnSO4 group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased, while HDL-C levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). The total sperm count and sperm motility were significantly increased (P<0.05). Serum T level was significantly increased (P<0.05). Testicular structure was improved. The mRNA and protein levels of testosterone synthesis related genes CYP11A1, LHR and STAR were significantly increased (P<0.01). The total zinc content in the testis was significantly increased (P<0.05). The zinc transporters ZIP1 and ZIP2 were significantly increased, and ZnT1 and ZnT8 were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in the testis were increased, while the levels of Bax, Caspase-9 and Caspase-12 mRNA and protein were decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion Zinc supplementation ameliorates the reproductive damages induced by high fat diet in male rats by improving zinc homeostasis, increasing testosterone secretion and decreasing sperm apoptosis.
Key words
zinc /
high fat diet /
reproduction /
rats
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