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High-fructose diet during puberty alters the sperm parameters, testosterone concentration, and histopathology of testes and epididymis in adult Wistar rats

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2021

Daniele Sapede Alvarenga Medaglia ,
Henrique Rodrigues Vieira ,
Sandra da Silva Silveira ,
Gláucia Eloisa Munhoz de L. Siervo ,
Monique Suellen da Silva Marcon ,
Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias Open the ORCID record for Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias [Opens in a new window]  and
Glaura S. A. Fernandes Open the ORCID record for Glaura S. A. Fernandes [Opens in a new window]
Daniele Sapede Alvarenga Medaglia
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil Department of Sciences Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Henrique Rodrigues Vieira
Affiliation:
Department of Biotechnology, Genetics, and Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
Sandra da Silva Silveira
Affiliation:
Department of Biotechnology, Genetics, and Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
Gláucia Eloisa Munhoz de L. Siervo
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil Department of Sciences Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
Monique Suellen da Silva Marcon
Affiliation:
Department of Biotechnology, Genetics, and Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
Paulo Cezar de Freitas Mathias
Affiliation:
Department of Biotechnology, Genetics, and Cell Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
Glaura S. A. Fernandes*
Affiliation:
Department of General Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil Department of Sciences Pathology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
*
Address for correspondence: Glaura Scantamburlo Alves Fernandes, Department of General Biology, State University of Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445 – Km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil. Email: glaura@uel.br
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Abstract

The consumption of fructose has increased in children and adolescents and is partially responsible for the high incidence of metabolic diseases. The lifestyle during postnatal development can result in altered metabolic programming, thereby impairing the reproductive system and fertility during adulthood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a high-fructose diet in the male reproductive system of pubertal and adult rats. Male Wistar rats (30 d old) were assigned to four different groups: Fr30, which received fructose (20%) in water for 30 d and were euthanized at postnatal day (PND) 60; Re-Fr30, which received fructose (20%) for 30 d and were euthanized at PND 120; and two control groups C30 and Re-C30, which received water ad libitum and were euthanized at PND 60 and 120, respectively. Fructose induced an increase in abnormal seminiferous tubules with epithelial vacuoles, degeneration, and immature cells in the lumen. Moreover, Fr30 rats showed altered spermatogenesis and daily sperm production (DSP), as well as increased serum testosterone concentrations. After discontinuing high-fructose consumption, DSP and sperm number decreased significantly. We observed tissue remodeling in the epididymis, with a reduction in stromal and epithelial compartments that might have influenced sperm motility. Therefore, we concluded that fructose intake in peripubertal rats led to changes in the reproductive system observed both during puberty and adulthood.

Keywords

Fructose dietmale fertilitypubertydevelopmental origins of health and disease

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Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 20 - 27
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press in association with International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

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