Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Glutamate-induced obesity leads to decreased sperm reserves and acceleration of transit time in the epididymis of adult male rats

Authors: Glaura SA Fernandes, Arielle C Arena, Kleber E Campos, Gustavo T Volpato, Janete A Anselmo-Franci, Débora C Damasceno, Wilma G Kempinas

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Given the established fact that obesity interferes with male reproductive functions, the present study aimed to evaluate sperm production in the testis and storage in the epididymis in a glutamate-induced model of obesity.

Methods

Male rats were treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate (MSG) at doses of 4 mg/kg subcutaneously, or with saline solution (control group), on postnatal days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. On day 120, obesity was confirmed by the Lee index in all MSG-treated rats. After this, all animals from the two experimental groups were anesthetized and killed to evaluate body and reproductive organ weights, sperm parameters, plasma hormone levels (FSH, LH and testosterone), testicular and epididymal histo-morphometry and histopathology.

Results

Significant reductions in absolute and relative weights of testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicle were noted in MSG-treated animals. In these same animals plasma testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were decreased, as well as sperm counts in the testis and epididymis and seminiferous epithelium height and tubular diameter. The sperm transit time was accelerated in obese rats. However, the number of Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule and stereological findings on the epididymis were not markedly changed by obesity.

Conclusions

Neonatal MSG-administered model of obesity lowers sperm production and leads to a reduction in sperm storage in the epididymis of adult male rats. The acceleration of sperm transit time can have implications for the sperm quality of these rats.
Literature
1.
WHO - World Health Organization: World Health Organization. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. 894. 2000, Geneva: WHO Technical Report Series, Part I: The problem of overweight and obesity
2.
Pasquali R: Obesity, fat distribution and infertility. Maturitas. 2006, 54 (4): 363-371. 10.1016/j.maturitas.2006.04.018.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Visscher TL, Seidell JC: The public health impact of obesity. Annu Rev Public Health. 2001, 22 (1): 355-375. 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.22.1.355.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Bray GA: Obesity: historical development of scientific and cultural ideas. Int J Obes. 1990, 14 (11): 909-926.PubMed
5.
Strain GW, Zumoff B, Kream J, Strain JJ, Deucher R, Rosenfeld RS, Levin J, Fukushima DK: Mild hypogonadotropichypogonadism in obese men. Metabolism. 1982, 31 (9): 871-875. 10.1016/0026-0495(82)90175-5.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Haffner SM, Valdez RA, Stern MP, Katz MS: Obesity, body fat distribution and sex hormones in men. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1993, 17 (11): 643-649.PubMed
7.
Magnusdottir EV, Thorsteinsson T, Thorsteinsdottir S, Heimisdottir M, Olafsdottir K: Persistent organochlorines, sedentary occupation, obesity and human male subfertility. Human Reprod. 2005, 20 (1): 208-215.CrossRef
8.
Jensen TK, Andersson AM, Jørgensen N, Andersen AG, Carlsen E, Petersen JH, Skakkebæk NE: Body mass index in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormones among 1,558 Danish men. Fertil Steril. 2004, 82 (4): 863-870. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.03.056.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Sallmen M, Sandler DP, Hoppin JA, Blair A, Baird DD: Reduced fertility among overweight and obese men. Epidemiology. 2006, 17 (5): 520-523. 10.1097/01.ede.0000229953.76862.e5.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Kort HI, Massey JB, Elsner CW, Mitchell-Leef D, Shapiro DB, Witt MA, Roudebush WE: Impact of body mass index values on sperm quantity and quality. J Androl. 2006, 27 (3): 450-452. 10.2164/jandrol.05124.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Vigueras-Villaseñor RM, Rojas-Castañeda JC, Chávez-Saldaña M, Gutiérrez-Pérez O, García-Cruz EM, Cuevas-Alpuche O, Reyes-Romero MM, Zambrano E: Alterations in the spermatic function generated by obesity in rats. Acta Histochem. 2011, 113 (2): 214-220. 10.1016/j.acthis.2009.10.004.CrossRefPubMed
12.
York DA: Lessons from animal models of obesity. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1996, 25 (4): 781-800. 10.1016/S0889-8529(05)70354-6.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Sukhanov SN, Andrade IS, Dolnikoff MS, Ferreira A: Neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment alters rat intestinal muscle reactivity to some agonists. Eur J Pharmacol. 1999, 386 (2–3): 247-252.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Mello MAR, Souza T, Braga LR, Santos W, Ribeiro IA, Gobatto CA: Glucose tolerance and insulin action in monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese exercise-trained rats. Physiol Chem Phys Med NMR. 2001, 33 (1): 63-71.PubMed
15.
Cunha NV, Abreu SB, Panisb C, Grassiollia S, Guarnierb FA, Cecchinib R, Mazzucob TL, Pinge-Filho P, Martins-Pinge MC: Cox-2 inhibition attenuates cardiovascular and inflammatory aspects in monosodium glutamate-induced obese rats. Life Sci. 2010, 87: 375-381. 10.1016/j.lfs.2010.07.014.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Lyon HN, Hirschhorn JN: Genetics of common forms of obesity: a brief overview. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005, 82 (1): 215S-217S.PubMed
17.
Bueno AA, Oyama LM, Estadella D, Habitante CA, Bernardes BSS, Ribeiro EB, Oller CMN: Lipid metabolism of monosodium glutamate obese rats after partial removal of adipose tissue. Physiol Res. 2005, 54 (1): 57-65.PubMed
18.
França LR, Suescum MO, Miranda JR, Giovambattista A, Perello M, Spinedi E, Calandra RS: Testis structure and function in a nongenetichyperadipose rat model at prepubertal and adult ages. Endocrinology. 2006, 147 (3): 1556-1563.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Campos KE, Sinzato YK, Pimenta WP, Rudge MVC, Damasceno DC: Effect of maternal obesity on diabetes development in adult rat offspring. Life Sci. 2007, 81 (19–20): 1473-1478.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Dolnikoff M, Martin-Hidalgo A, Machado UF, Lima FB, Herrera E: Decreased lipolysis and enhanced glycerol and glucose utilization by adipose tissue prior to development of obesity in monosodium glutamate (MSG) treated-rats. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001, 25 (3): 426-433. 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801517.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Diemen VV, Trindade EN, Trindade MRM: Experimental model to induce obesity in rats. Acta Cir Bras. 2006, 21 (6): 425-429.
22.
Hermo L, Robaire B: Epididymal cell types and their functions. The Epididymis – From Molecules to Clinical Practice. Edited by: Robaire B, Hinton BT. 2002, New York: sKluwer Academic / Plenum Publisher, 81-102.CrossRef
23.
Otoya RE, Seltzer AM, Donoso AO: Decrease of (+)-3-[125I]MK-801 binding to NMDA brain receptors revealed at puberty in rats treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 1996, 95 (2): 149-156.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Bernardis LL: Prediction of carcass fat, water, and lean body mass from Lee’s “Nutritive Ratio” in rats with hypothalamic obesity. Experientia. 1970, 26: 789-790. 10.1007/BF02232553.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Sanabria ER, Pereira MF, Dolninkoff MS, Andrade IS, Ferreira AT, Cavalheiro EA: Deficit in hippocampal long-term potentiation in monosodium glutamate-treated rats. Brain Res Bull. 2002, 59 (1): 47-51. 10.1016/S0361-9230(02)00837-7.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Bernardis LL, Patterson BD: Correlation between “Lee index” and carcass fat content in weanling and adult female rats with hypothalamic lesions. J Endocrinol. 1968, 40 (4): 527-528. 10.1677/joe.0.0400527.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Robb GW, Amann RP, Killian GJ: Daily sperm production and epididymal sperm reserves of pubertal and adult rats. J Reprod Fertil. 1978, 54 (1): 103-107. 10.1530/jrf.0.0540103.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Fernandes GS, Arena AC, Fernandez CDB, Mercadante A, Barbisan LF, Kempinas WG: Reproductive effects in male rats exposed to diuron. ReprodToxicol. 2007, 23 (1): 106-112.
29.
Ashby J, Tinwell H, Lefevre PA, Joiner R, Haseman J: The effect on sperm production in adult Sprague–Dawley rats exposed by gavage to bisphenol A between postnatal days 91–97. Toxicol Sci. 2003, 74 (1): 129-138. 10.1093/toxsci/kfg093.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Weibel ER: Principles and methods for the morphometric study of the lung and other organs. Lab Invest. 1963, 12 (1): 131-155.PubMed
31.
Leblond CP, Clermont Y: Spermiogenesis of rat, mouse, hamster and guinea pig as revealed by the periodic acid-fuchsin sulfurous acid technique. Am J Anat. 1952, 90 (2): 167-215. 10.1002/aja.1000900202.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Kanarek RB, Marks-Kaufman R: Increased carbohydrate consumption induced by neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate to rats. Neuro behav Toxicol Teratol. 1981, 3 (3): 343-350.
33.
Oida K, Nakai T, Hayashi T, Miyabo S, Takeda R: Plasma lipoproteins of monosodium glutamate-induced obese rats. Int J Obes. 1984, 8 (5): 385-391.PubMed
34.
Papa PC, Vargas AM, Silva JLT, Nunes MT, Machado UF: GLUT4 protein is differently modulated during development of obesity in monosodium glutamate-treated mice. Life Sci. 2002, 71 (16): 1917-1928. 10.1016/S0024-3205(02)01948-3.CrossRef
35.
Mozeš S, Sefeikov Z, Lenhardt L, Racek L: Effect of adrenalectomy on the activity of small intestine enzymes in monosodium glutamate obese rats. Physiol Res. 2004, 53 (4): 415-422.PubMed
36.
Soares A, Schoffen JP, Gouveia EM, Natali MR: Effects of the neonatal treatment with monosodium glutamate on myenteric neurons and the intestine wall in the ileum of rats. J Gastroenterol. 2006, 41 (7): 674-680. 10.1007/s00535-006-1839-5.CrossRefPubMed
37.
Broberger C, Johansen J, Johansson C, Schalling M, Hökfelt T: The neuropeptide Y/agouti gene-related protein (AGRP) brain circuitry in normal, anorectic, and monosodium glutamate-treated mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1998, 95 (25): 15043-15048. 10.1073/pnas.95.25.15043.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
38.
Dawson R, Pelleymounter MA, Millard WJ, Liu S, Eppler B: Attenuation of leptin-mediated effects by monosodium glutamate-induced arcuate nucleus damage. Am J Physiol. 1997, 273 (1 Pt 1): E202-E206.PubMed
39.
Maletínská L, Toma RS, Pirnik Z, Kiss A, Slaninová J, Haluzík M, Zelezná B: Effect of cholecystokinin on feeding is attenuated in monosodium glutamate obese mice. Regul Pept. 2006, 136 (1–3): 58-63.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Nakagawa T, Ukai K, Ohyama T, Gomita Y, Okamura H: Effects of chronic administration of sibutramine on body weight, food intake and motor activity in neonatally monosodium glutamate-treated obese female rats: relationship of antiobesity effect with monoamines. Exp Anim. 2000, 49: 239-249. 10.1538/expanim.49.239.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Zenick H, Clegg ED, Perreault SD, Klinefelter GR, Gray LE: Assessment of male reproductive toxicity: a risk assessment approach. Principles and Methods of Toxicology. Edited by: Hayes AW. 1994, New York: Raven, 937-988. 3
42.
Dada MO, Blake CA: Administration of monosodium glutamate to neonatal male rats: alterations in the gonadotrophs and in gonadotrophin secretion. Neuroendocrinology. 1984, 38 (6): 490-497. 10.1159/000123938.CrossRefPubMed
43.
Gong SL, Xia FQ, Wei J, Li XY, Sun TH, Lu Z, Liu SZ: Harmful effects of MSG on function of hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland system. Biomed Environ Sci. 1995, 8 (4): 310-317.PubMed
44.
Tena-Sempere M, Pinilla L, Gonzalez LC, Dieguez C, Casanueva FF, Aguilar E: Leptin inhibits testosterone secretion from adult rat testis in vitro. J Endocrinol. 1999, 161 (2): 211-218. 10.1677/joe.0.1610211.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Badger TM, Millard WJ, Martin JB, Rosenblum PM, Levenson SE: Hypothalamic-pituitary function in adult rats treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate. Endocrinology. 1982, 111 (6): 2031-2038. 10.1210/endo-111-6-2031.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Sridaran R, Rodriguez-Sierra JF, Blake CA: Effects of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus lesions on pulsatile luteinizing hormone concentration in ovariectomized rats. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1981, 168 (1): 38-44.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Hammoud AO, Gibson M, Peterson CM, Meikle AW, Carrell DT: Impact of male obesity on infertility: a critical review of the current literature. Fertil Steril. 2008, 90 (4): 897-904. 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.026.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Orth JM: Cell biology of testicular development in fetus and neonate. Cell and molecular biology of the testis. Edited by: Desjardins C, Ewing LL. 1993, New York: Oxford University Press, 3-42.
49.
Berndtson WE, Igboeli G, Pickett BW: Relationship of absolute numbers of Sertoli cells to testicular size and spermatogenesis in young beef bulls. J AnimSci. 1987, 64 (1): 241-246.
50.
França LR, Russell LD: The testis of domestic animals. Male reproduction: a multidisciplinary overview. Edited by: Martínez-Garcia F, Regadera J. 1998, Madrid: Churchill Communications Europe España, 197-219.
51.
Kempinas WG, Klinefelter GR: The Epididymis as a Target for Toxicants. Comprehensive Toxicology. Edited by: Charlene A. 2010, McQueen: Oxford: Academic Press, 149-166.CrossRef
52.
Maffei M, Halaas J, Ravussin E, Pratley RE, Lee GH, Zhang Y, Fei H, Kim S, Lallone R, Ranganathan S: Leptin levels in human and rodent: measurement of plasma leptin and ob RNA in obese and weight reduced subjects. Nat Med. 1995, 1 (11): 1155-1161. 10.1038/nm1195-1155.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Considine RV, Sinha MK, Heinman ML, Kriavciunas A, Stephans TW, Nyce MR, Ohannesian JP, Marco CC, McKee LJ, Bauer TL, Caro JF: Serum immunoreactive-leptin concentrations in normal-weight and obese humans. N Engl J Med. 1996, 334 (5): 292-295. 10.1056/NEJM199602013340503.CrossRefPubMed
54.
Fernandez CD, Bellentani FF, Fernandes GS, Perobelli JE, Favareto AP, Nascimento AF, Cicogna AC, Kempinas WD: Diet-induced obesity in rats leads to a decrease in sperm motility. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2011, 11: 9-32.
55.
Magni P, Motta M, Martini L: Leptin: a possible link between food intake, energy expenditure, and reproductive function. Regul Pepti. 2000, 92 (1–3): 51-56.CrossRef
56.
Barash IA, Cheung CC, Weigle DS, Ren H, Kabigting EB, Kuijper JL, Clifton DK, Steiner RA: Leptin is a metabolic signal to the reproductive system. Endocrinology. 1996, 137 (7): 3144-3147. 10.1210/en.137.7.3144.PubMed
57.
Caprio M, Fabbrini E, Isidori AM, Aversa A, Fabbri A: Leptin in reproduction. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2001, 12 (2): 65-72. 10.1016/S1043-2760(00)00352-0.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Smith GD, Jackson LM, Foster DL: Leptin regulation of reproductive function and fertility. Theriogenology. 2002, 57 (1): 73-86. 10.1016/S0093-691X(01)00658-6.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Glutamate-induced obesity leads to decreased sperm reserves and acceleration of transit time in the epididymis of adult male rats
Authors
Glaura SA Fernandes
Arielle C Arena
Kleber E Campos
Gustavo T Volpato
Janete A Anselmo-Franci
Débora C Damasceno
Wilma G Kempinas
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-10-105

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research

Genome-wide expressions in autologous eutopic and ectopic endometrium of fertile women with endometriosis

Research

Bone morphogenetic protein-15 in follicle fluid combined with age may differentiate between successful and unsuccessful poor ovarian responders

Research

Steroidogenic capacity of the placenta as a supplemental source of progesterone during pregnancy in domestic cats

Research

Quantitative ELISAs for serum soluble LHCGR and hCG-LHCGR complex: potential diagnostics in first trimester pregnancy screening for stillbirth, Down’s syndrome, preterm delivery and preeclampsia

Research

A new ovarian response prediction index (ORPI): implications for individualised controlled ovarian stimulation

Research

Periconceptional changes in thyroid function: a longitudinal study