Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates high-fat diet induced testicular toxicity in rats

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on high-fat diet (HFD) induced testicular damage, oxidative stress, and apoptotic germ cell death. Male rats (n = 40) were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (treated with physiological saline), HFD group, HFD + GSPE (100 mg kg^-1) group and HFD + GSPE (300 mg kg^-1) group. Compared with the HFD group the rats of the GSPE-treated group showed improved serum testosterone levels, sperm quality and histological appearance of the testis tissue. Significant elevation of antioxidant enzyme (SOD, GSH, and GSH-Px) activities and remarkable reduction in MDA were also observed by GSPE administration, indicating that GSPE can decrease testicular oxidative stress. Finally, a significant reduction in spermatogenic cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. In summary, these results indicated that GSPE can suppress testicular dysfunction and this effect may be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. The current study indicates that GSPE can be considered a promising candidate for use as a drug or a food supplement to alleviate HFD-induced testicular dysfunction.

Fig. 1. HFD treatment significantly increased the body weights gain (a and b) and reduced reproductive organ weight/body weight ratios (c and d) of rats compared with the control group. GSPE treatment alleviated this tendency. *P < 0.05 vs. control and #P < 0.05 vs. HFD.

Fig. 2. HFD feeding significantly decreased the serum T level of rats compared with the control group. GSPE supplementary restored HFD induced serum T level decline. No significant differences were observed in serum level of FSH and LH among groups *P < 0.05 vs. control and #P < 0.05 vs. HFD.

Fig. 3. Sperm parameters such as concentration, sperm viability and motility were significantly decreased and sperm abnormalities increased in HFD rats. GSPE treatment significantly attenuated HFD induced sperm parameters decline. *P < 0.05 vs. control and #P < 0.05 vs. HFD.

Fig. 4. Levels of GSH and MDA, and GSH-Px, SOD activities in the testes of rats were markedly decreased after HFD treatment. GSPE supplementary decrease HFD induced oxidative stress in the testes.

Fig. 5. Light microscopy of testes tissue in different groups. H&E ×200: (A–D, Control group, HFD group, HFD + GSPE (100 mg kg⁻¹) group and HFD + GSPE (300 mg kg⁻¹) group). (A) In control group, normal testicular architecture was seen; (B) after HFD treatment, severe testes damage was noted; (C and D) there was an improvement in the seminiferous tubule structure in GSPE-treated HFD rats.

Fig. 6. TUNEL: representative photographs of TUNEL staining among groups ((A–D) control group, HFD group, HFD + GSPE (100 mg kg⁻¹) group and HFD + GSPE (300 mg kg⁻¹) group). Positive cells of TUNEL staining were increased in HFD rats. Treatment with GSPE markedly reduced the reactivity and the number of germ cell apoptosis (n = 10). *P < 0.05 vs. control and #P < 0.05 vs. HFD.