Protective effect of resveratrol on spermatozoa function in male infertility induced by excess weight and obesity

Abstract

Male infertility is a complex, multifactorial and polygenic disease that contributes to ~50% cases of infertility. Previous studies have demonstrated that excess weight and obesity factors serve an important role in the development of male infertility. An increasing number of studies have reported that resveratrol may regulate the response of cells to specific stimuli that induce cell injury, as well as decrease germ cell apoptosis in mice or rats. In the present study, the semen quality and serum sex hormone levels were evaluated in 324 men, which included 73 underweight, 82 normal weight, 95 overweight and 74 obese men. All patients were referred to The Reproductive Medicine Center of Shanxi Women and Infants Hospital (Taiyuan, China) between January 2013 and January 2015. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol treatment on the motility, plasma zinc concentration and acrosin activity of sperm from obese males. The sperm concentration, normal sperm morphology, semen volumes, DNA fragmentation rates and testosterone levels in men from the overweight and obese groups were markedly decreased when compared with men in the normal weight group. In addition, the progressive motility, seminal plasma zinc concentration and spermatozoa acrosin activity were notably decreased in the obese group compared with the normal weight group. However, estradiol levels were significantly increased in the overweight, obese and underweight groups compared with the normal weight group. Notably, semen samples from obese males with astenospermia treated with 0–100 µmol/l resveratrol for 30 min demonstrated varying degrees of improvement in sperm motility. When these semen samples were treated with 30 µmol/l resveratrol, sperm motility improved when compared to other doses of resveratrol. Therefore, 30 µmol/l resveratrol was selected for further experiments. Upon treatment of semen samples with resveratrol (30 µmol/l) for 30 min, the seminal plasma zinc concentration and spermatozoa acrosin activity increased significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group. These data suggest that male obesity negatively impacts on male reproductive potential, not only through altering hormone levels, but also by directly altering sperm function. In addition, resveratrol may have a therapeutic and protective effect against obesity-induced abnormalities in semen.

Alcohol intake and semen variables: cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study of men referring to an Italian Fertility Clinic

“…A relation between alcohol drinking and semen parameter is biologically plausible. It is known that beer and wine contain polyphenols such as resveratrol or xanthohuminol, which were demonstrated to have a strong therapeutic and cell protective potential (Wogatzky et al, 2012;Cui et al, 2016). Accordingly, it can be suggested that these compounds might stand behind the observed beneficial effects found in this study.…”

“…In our sample, a relatively low alcohol intake was frequent: although 90% of men reported some alcohol consumption, about one third drank no more than 3 units per week and one third no more than 7 units/week. It is known that beer and wine contain polyphenols such as resveratrol or xanthohuminol, which were demonstrated to have a strong therapeutic and cell protective potential (Wogatzky et al, 2012;Cui et al, 2016). A relation between alcohol drinking and semen parameter is biologically plausible.…”

Antioxidant Effects of Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Flower Extract on the Oxidative Balance of Bovine Spermatozoa

“…However, the chemical components of marigold include a lot of substances which are known for their antioxidant effects, including resveratrol, rutin, kaempferol and apigenin. Cui et al (2016) Mitochondria are one of the most important organelles in the sperm cell as they provide energy needed for proper functioning of metabolism and cell control. Mitochondrial activity is very closely connected to motility because mitochondria also provide energy for sperm movement.…”

Quercetin and rutin ameliorates sulphasalazine‐induced spermiotoxicity, alterations in reproductive hormones and steroidogenic enzyme imbalance in rats

“…The observations of increased ROS in seminal plasma of infertile men have led clinicians to treat them with antioxidant supplements (Zini & Al‐Hathal., ). Resveratrol‐protected spermatozoa function in obese infertile males while quercetin and rutin preserved human‐ejaculated spermatozoa against tert‐butyl hydroperoxide‐induced oxidative stress (Cui, Jing, Wu, & Yan, ; Moretti et al., ). Thus, based on observations and the successes reported with antioxidant therapy, supplementation with regulated doses of quercetin and rutin could be explored to maintain fertility in male patients on sulphasalazine therapy.…”