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Extra-virgin olive oil ameliorates high-fat diet-induced seminal and testicular disorders by modulating the
Abi Karenina Funes1,2,3, María Virginia Avena1,2,3, Jorge Ibañez2,3
1Laboratorio de Biología Molecular del Metabolismo & Nutrición (MeNu). IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina.
Background:
Rabbits are sensitive to dietary cholesterol and rapidly develop hypercholesterolemia, leading to prominent subfertility. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2 drives the intracellular cholesterol pathway in many tissues, including the testicles. Its abnormal regulation could be the mainly responsible for the failure of suppressing cholesterol synthesis in a cholesterol-enriched environment, ultimately leading to testicular and seminal alterations. However, extra-virgin olive oil consumption has beneficial properties that promote lowering of cholesterol levels, including the recovery of seminal parameters altered under a high-fat diet.
Objectives:
Our goal was to investigate the effects of high-fat diet supplementation with extra-virgin olive oil at the molecular level on rabbit testes, by analyzing sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2 protein and its corresponding downstream effectors.
Materials And Methods:
During 12 months, male rabbits were fed a control diet, high-fat diet, or 6-month high-fat diet followed by 6-month high-fat diet plus extra-virgin olive oil. Serum lipids, testosterone levels, bodyweight, and seminal parameters were tested. The mRNA and protein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor were determined by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting techniques. The expression pattern of sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2 protein in the rabbit testicles was studied by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, testicular cholesterol was detected and quantified by filipin staining and gas chromatography.
Results:
The data showed that the addition of extra-virgin olive oil to high-fat diet reduced testicular cholesterol levels and recovered the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein isoform 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and low-density lipoprotein receptor initially altered by the high-fat diet.
Discussion And Conclusions:
The combination of high-fat diet with extra-virgin olive oil encourages testicular recovery by modifying the expression of the enzymes related to intracellular cholesterol management.
Insights
Extra-virgin olive oil helps rabbits recover testicular function damaged by high-fat diets. It reduces cholesterol and normalizes key proteins involved in cholesterol synthesis, improving reproductive health.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Nutritional Science
- Molecular Endocrinology
Background:
- Rabbits are susceptible to dietary cholesterol, leading to hypercholesterolemia and subfertility.
- Abnormal regulation of Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein isoform 2 (SREBP-2) may cause testicular dysfunction in high-cholesterol environments.
- Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is known for cholesterol-lowering properties and potential recovery of seminal parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular effects of EVOO supplementation in high-fat diet-fed rabbits on testicular function.
- To analyze the expression of SREBP-2 and its downstream targets in rabbit testes.
Main Methods:
- Male rabbits were fed control, high-fat, or high-fat plus EVOO diets for 12 months.
- Serum lipids, testosterone, body weight, and seminal parameters were assessed.
- mRNA and protein levels of SREBP-2, HMGCR, and LDLR were quantified using RT-PCR and Western blotting.
- Testicular cholesterol levels were measured via filipin staining and gas chromatography.
Main Results:
- EVOO supplementation reduced testicular cholesterol levels in rabbits fed a high-fat diet.
- EVOO restored the expression of SREBP-2, HMGCR, and LDLR, which were altered by the high-fat diet.
- Seminal parameters showed recovery with EVOO supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Combining a high-fat diet with EVOO promotes testicular recovery.
- EVOO modifies the expression of enzymes involved in intracellular cholesterol management, mitigating high-fat diet-induced testicular damage.
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