Palm Oil Diet-Induced Obesity Impairs Male Rat Reproductive Performance

Introduction: Obesity is rapidly becoming a worldwide problem affecting the reproductive system. Some studies have shown the relationship between obesity and infertility, but until now it remains controversial. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of a specific high-fat diet on the male rat reproductive performances. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed either with a 15 % palm oil diet (POD) or a standard diet (SD) for 16 weeks. At the end of the feeding period, copulatory activity, electromyograms (EMG) of the bulbospongiosus muscles and intraseminal pressure, body and organ weights, Lee index, sperm characteristics were evaluated. Results: Feeding of male rats for 16 weeks with POD brought out an obesity status characterized by a significant increase in the growth rate percentage (P<0.05), Lee index (P<0.001) and total cholesterol level (P<0.05) compared to SD-fed animals. Absolute weights of testis and epididymis were significantly (P<0.001) higher in POD animals compared to SD group. A significant increase (P<0.05) in ML, IL and PEI was also observed. The pro-ejaculatory effect of dopamine was significantly lowered (P<0.001) in POD rats when compared to SD animals. Sperm motility, viability and normality were significantly decreased (P<0.001) in POD group. Significant abnormal head (P<0.05), abnormal tail (P<0.001) and cytoplasmic droplet (P<0.001) were also observed in POD rats. The sperm counts and the sperm with tailless head remained statistically unchanged between POD and SD groups. Conclusion: POD seriously impairs sexual behavior, ejaculatory activities and sperm parameters of male rats.