Effect of Different High-Fat and Advanced Glycation End-Products Diets in Obesity and Diabetes-Prone C57BL/6 Mice on Sperm Function

We aimed to compare the effects of using high-fat (HF) and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) containing dietsto induce obesity and diabetes on sperm function in mice.  

 In this experimental study, twenty-five 4-week old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups and were fed with control, 45% HF, 60% HF, 45% AGEs-HF, or 60% AGEs-HF diet. After 28 weeks, fast blood sugar, glucose intolerance, insulin concentration, homeostatic model assessments (HOMA) for insulin resistance (IR) and HOMA for beta cells (HOMA beta) from systematic blood were assessed. In addition, body weight, morphometric characteristics of testes, sperm parameters, DNA damage (AO), protamine deficiency (CMAA3), and sperm membrane (DCFH-DA) and intracellular (BODIPY) lipid peroxidation were measured.  

 Body mass and fasting blood sugar increased significantly in all experimental groups compared to the control group. Insulin concentration, glucose intolerance, HOMA IR, and HOMA beta were also increased significantly with higher levels of fat and AGEs in all four diets (p <0.05). The changes in the 60% HF-AGEs group, however, were more significant (p <0.001). Morphometric characteristics of the testis, sperm concentration, and sperm morphology in the diet groups did not significantly differ from the control group, while sperm motility and DNA damage in the 45%HF were significantly low. Although for protamine deficiency, both 60% HF-AGEs and 45% HF showed a significant increase compared to the control, the mean of sperm lipid in the 45% HF group and intracellular peroxidation in the 60% HF-AGEs group had the highest and the lowest increases, respectively.  

Our results, interestingly, showed that isthe negative effects of a diet containing AGEs on examined parameters are lessthan those in HF diets. One possible reason is detoxification through the activation of the protective glyoxalase pathway asthe result of the chronic AGEs increase in the body.