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Obesity Triggers Dysregulation of Essential ABC Transporters in Rat Testis and Sperm

Péter Szatmári1, Kata Kira Kemény1, Adrienn Seres-Bokor1

  • 1Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Eötvös Street 6, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.

Nutrients
|June 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Diet-induced obesity alters ABC transporters in male rats, impacting fertility. These changes in P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) occur even without affecting testosterone levels.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Metabolic Dysfunction
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Obesity and metabolic dysfunction negatively impact male fertility at a molecular level.
  • ABC transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), are implicated in testicular and sperm function.
  • Diet-induced obesity models are crucial for understanding metabolic impacts on reproductive health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of short-term diet-induced obesity on testicular and spermatic ABC transporter expression (P-gp/Abcb1 and BCRP/Abcg2) in a rat model.
  • To evaluate the impact of obesity on the testicular androgen state, including aromatase (Cyp19a1), androgen receptor (Ar), and testosterone levels.

Main Methods:

  • Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFHSD) for 10 weeks to induce obesity.
  • Metabolic status was assessed via glucose tolerance tests; reproductive organ weights were measured.
  • Gene and protein expression of Abcb1a/1b, Abcg2, Cyp19a1, and Ar in testes and sperm were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blotting; testosterone levels were measured by ELISA.

Main Results:

  • Obesity induction led to increased weight gain, glucose intolerance, and reduced reproductive organ size.
  • Testicular P-gp (Abcb1a/1b) expression increased, while BCRP (Abcg2) expression decreased in obese rats.
  • Spermatic expression of Abcb1a/1b and Abcg2 mRNA was reduced in obese rats; no significant changes were observed in testicular testosterone, Cyp19a1, or Ar mRNA levels.

Conclusions:

  • Diet-induced obesity causes significant alterations in key ABC transporters within the testes and sperm of male rats.
  • These ABC transporter changes may contribute to fertility impairments in obese males, independent of androgen dysregulation.
  • The findings highlight ABC transporters as potential early molecular indicators of obesity-related male infertility.
Keywords:
ABC transporterP-glycoproteinbreast cancer resistance proteinobesityratspermtestis

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