Metformin ameliorates testicular function and spermatogenesis in male mice with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet-induced obesity

Chin Yu Liu, Ting Chia Chang, Shyh Hsiang Lin, Sheng Tang Wu, Tai Lung Cha, Chih Wei Tsao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of metformin supplementation on metabolic dysfunction, testicular antioxidant capacity, apoptosis, inflammation and spermatogenesis in male mice with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet-induced obesity. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (NC group, n = 10) or a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFC group, n = 30) for 24 weeks, and mice randomly chosen from the HFC group were later treated with metformin for the final 8 weeks of HFC feeding (HFC + Met group, n = 15). Compared with the HFC group, the obese mice supplemented with metformin exhibited improved blood cholesterol, glucose and insulin resistance. The HFC group diminishes in the sperm motility and normal sperm morphology, while the poorer maturity of testicular spermatogenesis was improved by metformin treatment. The HFC group exhibited a higher estradiol level and a lower 17β-HSD protein expression. Further analyses showed that metformin treatment increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and reduced lipid peroxidation. Nevertheless, both the HFC and HFC + Met groups exhibited increased expressions of apoptosis and inflammation proteins in the testis. Metformin treatment ameliorated obesity-induced poor testicular spermatogenesis and semen quality through increasing the testosterone level and antioxidant capacity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1932
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalNutrients
Volume12
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020

Keywords

  • High-fat and high-cholesterol diet
  • Male infertility
  • Metformin
  • Obesity
  • Spermatogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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