DIETARY HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA INDUCES OXIDATIVE STRESS CHALLENGING SPERMATOGENESIS IN RAT MODEL: A LINK TO POSSIBLE INFERTILITY

Background: Hypercholesterolemia is rapidly becoming a worldwide epidemic that affects children and adults. Some attempt had made to generalize a relationship between hypercholesterolemia and infertility, but until now it remains scanty. Thus, the aim of the present study was initiated. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six each (n=6). The first group was control and second, third and fourth groups were fed with pure cholesterol and cholic acid orally once a day for 30 days. Body weights were noted weekly. At the end of treatment duration all animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Epididymis and testis were carefully removed and the organ weights were evaluated. Left epididymis was used for sperm count and sperm morphology. Blood sample were separated and used for determination of MDA level. Serum was used to determine the Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), HDL levels. LDL, VLDL levels were calculated. Results: Cholesterol-fed animals showed significant increases in obesity index and blood TABARS levels. TC and TG and LDL levels were also increased significantly. HDL level were decreased. Reproductive organ weights and sperm counts in the epididymis were significantly decreased. Furthermore, sperm abnormality was increased in high cholesterol fed animals as evidenced by a trend toward reduction in fertility potential. Conclusion: In conclusion, our data showed that diet-induced hypercholesterolemia adversely affects semen quality by reducing sperm count and a rise in altered sperm morphology. The low sperm quality may cause a reduction in fertility potential and lead to impairment in male fertility.