Effect of feeding a high-fat diet independently of caloric intake on reproductive function in diet-induced obese female rats

Abstract

IntroductionGlobally, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, predisposing females to health hazards including compromised reproductive capacity. Our objective was to investigate the effect of ad libitum, isocalorically and hypocalorically restricted high-fat diet (HFD) feeding on reproductive function in diet-induced obese female rats.Material and methodsTwenty female albino Sprague Dawley rats were used; 5 rats were kept on a standard pellet animal diet to serve as a control group (A) and 15 rats were fed a HFD for 9 weeks to induce obesity. The HFD fed animals were equally divided into three groups: an ad libitum HFD group (B), an isocalorically restricted HFD group (C), and a hypocalorically restricted HFD group (D). Estrous cyclicity, hormonal levels, ovarian histopathology and caspase-3 immunoreactivity were evaluated.ResultsThe HFD-fed rats in groups B, C and D had significant irregularity in estrous cyclicity Vs group A (p = 0.001, 0.003 and 0.034 respectively). Groups C and D had significant reduction in serum progesterone level (p = 0.006 and 0.018 Vs A). Isocaloric restriction of HFD feeding significantly increased serum LH. Groups B and C had a significant increase in caspase-3 expression in the ovary (p < 0.001).ConclusionsAd libitum HFD interfered with the normal estrous cycle and enhanced apoptosis of luteal cells in obese female rats. The HFD restriction interfered with the normal estrous cycle and caused functional insufficiency of the corpus luteum in obese female rats. These results suggest that HFD feeding determinately affects female reproductive function independently of caloric intake.

Luteal function during the estrous cycle in arginine-treated ewes fed different planes of nutrition

“…We postulate that during the early-luteal phase, specific expression of VEGF and VEGF receptors is required to initiate and regulate angiogenesis, and during the mid-luteal phase, VEGF may be required to control blood vessel permeability and endothelial cell function. Our findings are similar to a previously reported studies, wherein VEGF and/or receptors were detected in luteal tissues of women (Sugino et al 2000), sow (Kaczmarek et al 2007), water buffalo (Papa et al 2006), cow (Berisha et al 2000, 2016, mare (Al-zi'abi et al 2003, Müller et al 2009), monkey (Fisher et al 2013 and ewe (Redmer et al 1996, Vonnahme et al 2006. Furthermore, increased VEGF mRNA expression during the mid-luteal phase was observed in several species (Al-zí'abi et al 2003, Papa et al 2006, Müller et al 2009.…”

“…Furthermore, restricted maternal diet decreased cell proliferation in fetal primordial follicles and ovarian stroma at the end of pregnancy (Grazul-Bilska et al 2009). For rats, high-energy diet enhanced caspase-3 expression in the CL indicating enhanced apoptosis in luteal tissues, and thus, likely reducing growth (Hussain et al 2016). Data concerning in vivo Arg effects on the CL growth are not available for any species.…”

High‐fat diet and type 2 diabetes induced disruption of the oestrous cycle and alteration of hormonal profiles, but did not affect subpopulations of KNDy neurones in female rats

“…Perturbations of the reproductive functions, such as irregular oestrous cycles, are also present in the animal models of diet‐induced obesity (DIO) and DM2 . The mechanisms underlying such reproductive abnormalities may involve the kisspeptin system.…”

The Effect of Folic Acid Supplementation in the Ovary and Upon Embryo Development

“…In animal models, rodents fed with high fat diet have a reduced ovarian reserve (fewer primordial follicles) and subfertility. Moreover, these animals showed an altered oestrus cycle, with a longer diestrus stage (Hussain et al, 2016;Hohos et al, 2017). Other dietary factors that have shown to modulate the ovarian function are the metabolites and cofactors of one-carbon metabolism.…”