Semen quality and sperm function loss by hypercholesterolemic diet was recovered by addition of olive oil to diet in rabbit

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e52386. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052386. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Abstract

Fat increment (0.05% cholesterol, chol) in standard diet promoted a significant increase in serum and sperm membrane chol, which ultimately altered membrane-coupled sperm specific functions: osmotic resistance, acrosomal reaction, and sperm capacitation in White New Zealand rabbits. These changes were also associated with a reduction in motility percentage and appearance of abnormal sperm morphology. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary olive oil (OO, 7% v/w) administration to several male hypercholesterolemic rabbits (hypercholesterolemic rabbits, HCR) with altered fertility parameters. These HCR males were achieved by feeding normal rabbits with a high-fat diet (0.05% chol). HCR were associated with a modest non-significant increase in body weight (standard diet, 4.08±0.17 Kg, versus high-fat diet, 4.37±0.24 Kg). Hypercholesterolemic rabbits presented a marked decrease in semen volume, sperm cell count, and percentage of sperm motility, associated with a significant increase in sperm cell abnormalities. Moreover, sperm capacitation measured by the characteristic phosphorylated protein pattern in and induced acrosomal reaction were also altered suggesting sperm dysfunction. However, the administration of OO (for 16 weeks) to rabbits that were fed with 50% of the high-fat diet normalized serum chol. Curiously, OO supply succeeded to attenuate the seminal and sperm alterations observed in HCR group. Administration of OO alone did not cause any significant changes in above mentioned parameters. These data suggest that OO administration to HCR male rabbits recovers the loss of semen quality and sperm functionality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrosome Reaction / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / adverse effects
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / pharmacology
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Hypercholesterolemia / etiology
  • Hypercholesterolemia / physiopathology
  • Hypercholesterolemia / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Olive Oil
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphotyrosine / metabolism
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage
  • Plant Oils / pharmacology*
  • Rabbits
  • Semen Analysis*
  • Sperm Capacitation / drug effects
  • Sperm Count
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / physiology

Substances

  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Dietary Fats, Unsaturated
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Oils
  • Phosphotyrosine

Grants and funding

Funding provided by Program 2011–2014, Secretary of Science and Technology (SECyT), National University of Cuyo; and Projects 2011, 2012, 2013, Committee of Investigations of Aconcagua University (CIUDA), Aconcagua University. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.