[TESTICULAR FUNCTION AND LIPID METABOLISM IN MALE MICE WITH HEREDITARY PREDISPOSITION TO OBESITY]

Parameters of spermatogenesis, androgen status and lipid metabolism (amount of abdominal fat, cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels) in male mice with the mutation yellow at the locus agouti (Ay mice), which results in obesity after puberty were studied. Their lean littermate's mice of standard C57BL/6J strain genotype (a/a mice) were used as a control. At the age of 15 and 30 weeks the body weight, triglyceride levels, and at the age of 30 weeks - abdominal fat mass in Ay males were higher than that of a/a males. These data confirm the development of obesity and disturbance of lipid metabolism in Ay males. There were no changes in the number of sperm in the caudal epididymis, the proportion of mobile and morphologically abnormal sperm, the concentration of testosterone and its content in the testes in Ay mice at the reproductively active period (age 15 and 30 weeks). It is assumed that the ectopic expression of agouti protein in Ay males may be involved in the protection of the testicular function from the negative impact of obesity.