Stereological assessment of the effects of vitamin D deficiency on the rat testis
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Stereological assessment of the effects of vitamin D deficiency on the rat testis Ali Zamani1,2, Forough Saki1* , Neda Hatami1 and Farhad Koohpeyma1*
Abstract Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that low vitamin D status may affect male gonadal structure. This study was undertaken to reveal whether vitamin D-deficient rats have demonstrable changes in the quantitative histomorphometric properties of the testis. Methods: In the present investigation, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and received: group 1) conventional diet; group 2) vitamin D-deficient diet; group 3) vitamin D-deficient diet and paricalcitol and group 4) conventional diet plus paricalcitol. After 3 months, serum levels of vitamin D metabolites, Ca, P, LH, FSH, testosterone, and epididymal sperm quality were evaluated. Moreover, the morphometric characteristics of testis were assessed via stereological methods. Results: Rats fed a vitamin D-deficient diet (groups 2 and 3) were normocalcemic and had 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level below 10 ng/mL. A significant reduction in serum testosterone and comparable gonadotropin levels were seen in vitamin D-deficient groups compared to controls. The concentration, morphology, and motility of sperm cells were profoundly disturbed in animals raised on the vitamin D-deficient diet. There was a significant decline in the population of different germ cells, the volume of interstitial tissue and germinal epithelium in group 2 and 3 rats, which were placed on the vitamin D-deficient diet. No appreciable difference in the estimates of the Leydig or Sertoli cell numbers were observed between groups. Conclusions: The depletion of vitamin D stores and induction of moderate grades of vitamin D deficiency by dietary measures led to remarkable impairment of spermatogenesis and microscopic architecture of rat testis. These findings can be attributed, at least in part, to decreased androgen production. Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Testis, Testosterone, Rats, Reproduction, Stereology
Background An estimated 15% of couples are affected by infertility globally. Identifiable male-related factors account for approximately 20–30% of infertility cases and contribute to 50% of reproductive problems overall [1]. However, there is no distinguishable cause in 30–45% of infertile men with dysspermatogenesis [2]. Vitamin D (VD) is a prohormone necessary for human health. The most active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1, * Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] 1 Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Nemazee Hospital, Zand Avenue, Shiraz 7193635899, Iran Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
25(OH)2D3] is a pleiotropic steroid hormone regulating calcium homeostasis and a wide variety of other biologic systems. In the context of the non-classical effects of VD in the biology of mammalian species, its impact on reproductive organs has received more attention in recent decades. Indee
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