Dietary lipids modify redox homeostasis and steroidogenic status in rat testis

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2008-07, Vol.24 (7), p.717-726
• Main Authors: Hurtado de Catalfo, Graciela E., Ph.D, de Alaniz, María J.T., Ph.D, Marra, Carlos A., Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - metabolism; 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - metabolism; animal models; Animals; Antioxidants; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Cholesterol; Coconut Oil; Diet; dietary fat; Dietary Fats - pharmacology; Dietary lipids; dietary nutrient sources; dietary supplements; Edible oils; Enzymes; fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Free radicals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Grapeseed oil; Homeostasis; Homeostasis - drug effects; Homeostasis - physiology; Hormonal levels; Hormones; human nutrition; hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases; Laboratory animals; Lipid composition; Lipids; Male; Metabolism; Olive Oil; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Physiology; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Proteins; Random Allocation; Rat; Rats; Rats, Wistar; redox reactions; Rodents; Soybean oil; Soybean Oil - pharmacology; Soybeans; steroid hormones; Steroidogenic enzymes; steroids; testes; Testis - drug effects; Testis - enzymology; Testis - metabolism; Testosterone; Testosterone - metabolism; Vegetable oils; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2008.03.008

Abstract Objective The present study explored the effect of dietary oils on lipid composition, antioxidant status, and the activity of the main steroidogenic enzymes in the testis. Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups ( n = 10) fed for 60 d on the same basal diet plus different lipid sources as commercial oils: soybean, olive, coconut, or grapeseed. After sacrifice, testicular lipids and fatty acid composition, free radical biomarkers, antioxidant levels, hormones, and steroidogenic enzymes were determined. Results The lipid composition of diets produced significant changes in neutral/phospholipids, free/esterified cholesterol, and plasmalogen proportion. Fatty acid patterns of these lipids were also strongly modified, influencing the double bond index. We also found a close correlation between the type of diet and the generation of free radicals. The oxidative stress in testes was higher with the grapeseed oil–supplemented diet and decreased with the other diets in this order: soybean oil > olive oil > coconut oil. Animals fed with the olive oil and coconut oil diets showed the highest testicular levels of antioxidants in addition to significantly high levels of testosterone and 3β- or 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes. Conclusion Different oils in the diets strongly modified the homeostasis of the testicular antioxidant defense system and, in consequence, affected steroidogenic function, showing a clear correlation with the damage induced. According to our results, an appropriate mixture of olive and soybean oils could be a healthy recommendation.