Publication: The effect of chronic stress and obesity on sperm quality and testis histology in male rats; a morphometric and immunohistochemical study
Authors
Demirci, Tuba ; Sahin, Elvan
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Publisher
Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de BiologĂa Celular e HistologĂa
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DOI
DOI: 10.14680/HH-18-077
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Objective. Stress and obesity lead structural
and functional abnormalities in many organs. This
research investigated the effect of these two risk factors
on sperm parameters and histologic structure of testis in
rat model.
Materials and methods. Twenty-four male rats were
divided into four groups with six rats in each group as
control, stress, obesity, and stress-obesity groups. The
rats of obesity and stress-obesity groups were fed highfat diet for 12-week and obesity was created. Control
and stress groups were given standard rat chow for the
same time. Through last 4-week, stress and stressobesity groups were applied to chronic mild stress
procedure. At the end of the experiment, epididymal
sperm was collected from vas deferens and testes were
harvested from sacrificed animals. Sperm samples were
evaluated in terms of concentration and motility by using
Makler Chamber. Sperm smears were stained with
Eosin-Y stain for morphological evaluation, and also
histochemically for GABA transporter-1 (GAT1)
expression assessment. Testis sections were dyed with
Hematoxylin-Eosin and Johnsen scores were assessed.
GAT1 expression was detected in testis sections by
immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL method was used
for determining apoptosis in testis.
Results. In comparison with the control samples in
stress, obesity, and stress-obesity groups sperm
concentration and motility decreased, and also the
number of sperm with abnormal morphology increased.
Stress, obesity, and stress-obesity groups showed a
significantly decreased in sperm concentration and
motility in comparison with the control group, and also
in these groups had significantly increased number of
abnormal sperm compared to control. Additionally, the
testicular structure was deteriorated, and Johnsen scores
decreased. And also GAT1 expression and apoptosis
were prominent. These negative results, especially,
testicular weight, sperm concentration, and Johnsen
score were more observed in the stress-obesity group.
Conclusions. Stress and obesity may induce male
infertility by disrupting both sperm quality and testis
histology. When stress and obesity are coexisting, these
adverse effects are more severe. And also, increased
GAT1 expression may be associated with these effects.
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Citation
Histology and Histopathology, Vol.34, nÂş3, (2019)
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