The effect of resistance training on testicular function and spermatogenesis process and sperm parameters of adult male Wistar rats

It has been shown that spermatogenesis disorder could induce infertility in male individuals. This study investigated the effect of resistance training on testicular function, spermatogenesis and sperm parameters in adult male Wistar rats.

Twenty adult male rats were selected and randomly divided into two groups; 1- control (n=10) and resistance training (n=10). The exercise was performed three days a week for a period of 5 weeks. We chose the method of 50% of body mass with 30 g overload and a resting time of 90 s. Testosterone of the serum, interstitial testicular fat density, spermatogenesis indexes and other sperm parameters were measured and then analyzed by statistical t-test.

In resistance training groups, there was a significant increase in the number of Leydig cells and interstitial fat density of the testis in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05), but this difference was not shown for the level of serum testosterone. Also, histological analysis showed that resistance training could significantly reduce spermatogenesis indices i.e. tubular differentiation index (TDI), spermiogenesis index (SI) and repopulation index (RI) in comparison with control group (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, this training could not yield the marked changes on number and the diameter of spermatozoon tube and its epitheliums. Finally, our results showed that motility and viability of sperm decrease prominently but, the amount of DNA fracture increased.

Resistance training could disrupt the process of spermatogenesis and sperm parameters that might yield infertility in male individuals.