Low protein diet and methyl-donor supplements modify testicular physiology in mice

Morgan, Hannah L; Ampong, Isaac; Eid, Nader; Rouillon, Charl�ne; Griffiths, Helen R; Watkins, Adam J

Abstract

The link between male diet and sperm quality has received significant investigation. However, the impact diet and dietary supplements have on the testicular environment has been examined to a lesser extent. Here, we establish the impact of a sub-optimal low protein diet (LPD) on testicular morphology, apoptosis and serum fatty acid profiles. Furthermore, we define whether supplementing a LPD with specific methyl donors abrogates any detrimental effects of the LPD. Male C57BL6 mice were fed either a control normal protein diet (NPD; 18% protein; n = 8), an isocaloric LPD (LPD; 9% protein; n = 8) or an LPD supplemented with methyl donors (MD-LPD; choline chloride, betaine, methionine, folic acid, vitamin B12; n = 8) for a minimum of 7 weeks. Analysis of male serum fatty acid profiles by gas chromatography revealed elevated levels of saturated fatty acids and lower levels of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in MD-LPD males when compared to NPD and/or LPD males. Testes of LPD males displayed larger seminiferous tubule cross section area when compared to NPD and MD-LPD males, while MD-LPD tubules displayed a larger luminal area. Furthermore, TUNNEL staining revealed LPD males possessed a reduced number of tubules positive for apoptosis, while gene expression analysis showed MD-LPD testes displayed decreased expression of the pro-apoptotic genes Bax, Csap1 and Fas when compared to NPD males. Finally, testes from MD-LPD males displayed a reduced telomere length but increased telomerase activity. These data reveal the significance of sub-optimal nutrition for paternal metabolic and reproductive physiology.

Citation

Morgan, H. L., Ampong, I., Eid, N., Rouillon, C., Griffiths, H. R., & Watkins, A. J. (2020). Low protein diet and methyl-donor supplements modify testicular physiology in mice. Reproduction, 159(5), 627-641. https://doi.org/10.1530/rep-19-0435

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 10, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 4, 2020
• Journal: Reproduction
• Print ISSN: 1470-1626
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-7899
• Publisher: BioScientifica
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 159
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 627-641
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/rep-19-0435
• Keywords: Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Cell Biology; Embryology; Endocrinology; Reproductive Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4563547
• Publisher URL: https://rep.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rep/159/5/REP-19-0435.xml