Investigating the effect of voluntary exercise and high fat diet on spermatozoid parameters, testicular miR-34a, oxidative stress and histological changes in type 2 diabetic male rats

Abstract

Considering the common fertility disorders in diabetic men, this investigation was proposed to investigate the effect of voluntary exercise and high-fat diet on sperm parameters, and testicular miR-34a expression, oxidative stress and tissue changes in type 2 diabetic male rats. Material and Methods: In this study, 64 male Wistar rats weighting 180-220g were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=8/group) as follow: Control (C), high fat diet (HFD), Diabetes (D), voluntary exercise (VE), high fat diet and voluntary exercise (HFD+VE), Diabetes and voluntary exercise (D+VE), Diabetes and high fat diet (D+HFD) and Diabetes and high fat diet and voluntary exercise (D+HFD+VE). Type 2 diabetes was induced in the diabetic groups by high-fat diet for 5 weeks and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Voluntary exercise was performed for 10 weeks in a special cage with a rotating wheel. Finally, serum levels of glucose, insulin, LH, FSH, estradiol and testosterone were measured. Moreover, the sperm parameters and testicular expression of miR-34a, oxidative stress and histological changes were assessed. Results: The findings of this study showed reduced sperm parameters and testosterone level and testicular SOD activity, and elevated testicular MDA activity and mir-34a expression in HFD and HFD+VE groups compared to controls and VE groups (p<0.01 to p<0.001). Voluntary exercise in HFD+VE group improved sperm parameters, testosterone level, testicular GPx and SOD activities and histological changes compared to HFD group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Increased sperm parameters, serum testosterone and FSH levels, testicular GPx and SOD activities and histological changes and decreased testicular mir-34a expression were seen in D+VE and D+HFD+VE groups compared to diabetic rats (p<0.05 to p<0.001). Enhanced sperm parameters, CAT and SOD activities and decreased testicular mir-34a expression were indicated in D+HFD+VE group compared to D+HFD group (p<0.05 to p<0.001).