Efeitos da infusão comercial de Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) sobre o parênquima testicular de camundongos BALB/c adultos submetidos à dieta hipercalórica

Abstract

Oxidative stress due to obesity plays a detrimental role in the testicular microenvironment and sperm parameters. This impairment of reproductive potential triggers a succession of events that are harmful to testicular cells, culminating in infertility. In the present study, we explored the impact of a hypercaloric diet in male BALB/c mice as a condition to trigger damage to spermatogenesis. Hence, we have tested the antioxidant effect of the commercial species Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos). To do so, we used a hypercaloric diet (4.4 Kcal/g) composed of 74.2% carbohydrates, 5.8% fat and 20% protein in animals divided into 3 groups (n=8): Control, HC (hypercaloric diet and water) and HCR (hypercaloric diet and Rooibos). Testicular morphometric parameters, enzyme dosages, cell viability and tubular histopathology were evaluated. Body weight increased in HCR animals at weeks 3, 4 and 8, respectively. Testicular morphometric analyzes indicated decreased seminiferous epithelium height, with an increase in the tubular diameter of the HCR group, indicating germ cell’s alterations. Catalase levels were lower in HC and HCR, while carbonyl protein was decreased in HC. The changes recorded may be considered as an initial response to the damage caused by the hypercaloric diet to the germ cells. Therefore, despite considering the time of exposure to the diet relatively short, we estimate that it induces oxidative stress capable of affecting the seminiferous epithelium and that the infusion of commercial A. linearis do not demonstrate a potential benefit in cell preservation.