Effects of Diet-Induced Obesity and Deficient in Vitamin D on Spermatozoa Function and DNA Integrity in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Obesity has adverse effects on male fertility and usually is diagnosed with a prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VD^-). Discussion on the impact of obesity/VD^- on sperm function has been limited. This study analyzed the effects of diet-induced obesity/VD^- on viability and plasma membrane integrity (PMI), superoxide anion (O₂ ^-) level, and DNA fragmentation (DNA_frag) in sperm Sprague-Dawley rats. The males were randomized into four groups and fed for a period of 12 weeks: G1: control diet with vitamin D (C/VD⁺), G2: control diet without vitamin D (C/VD^-), G3: high-fat diet with vitamin D (HF/VD⁺), and G4: high-fat diet without vitamin D (HF/VD^-). Sperm function parameters were analyzed by flow cytometry. PMI percentages and O₂ ^- levels were not affected by any of the diets. DNA fragmentation was increasing significantly (p<0.05) in the spermatozoa of animals with diets vitamin D deficient (G2) and diet-induced obesity (G4). Our results allow us to point out that diet-induced obesity and VD^- produce greater damage in DNA sperm of rats. The use of nutraceuticals containing vitamin D could be reducing the risk of fragmentation of DNA in spermatozoa.

Figure 1

Effects of diet-induced obesity and vitamin D deficiency in sperm function in rats. (a) Sperm viability and membrane plasma integrity (PMI), (b) superoxide anion level (O₂⁻), and (c) DNA fragmentation (DNA_frag). G1: control diet with vitamin D (C/VD⁺), G2: control diet without vitamin D (C/VD⁻), G3: high-fat diet with vitamin D (HF/VD⁺), and G4: high-fat diet without vitamin D (HF/VD⁻). Data are expressed as mean ± SD and analysed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparisons test. Different superscript letters indicate significantly different rates (p<0.05, n=11).

Figure 2

Interaction between diet-induced obesity and vitamin D on sperm function rat. (a) Interaction between diet-induced obesity and vitamin D on sperm viability and plasma membrane integrity (PMI), (b) interaction between diet-induced obesity and vitamin D on superoxide anion production (O₂⁻), and (c) interaction between diet-induced obesity and vitamin D on DNA fragmentation (DNA_frag). Data are expressed as mean ± SD and analysed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's multiple comparisons test. Different asterisks indicate significantly different rates (p<0.05, n=11).