Dietary cholesterol and oxidised cholesterol: effects on sperm characteristics, antioxidant status and hormonal profile in rats

Present study was designed to compare the potential effects of high serum levels of LDL and oxidised LDL (OxLDL) on spermatogenesis parameters in male Wistar rats. Animals were allocated into three groups and were fed for 14weeks with normal, cholesterol-rich and oxidised cholesterol-rich diets. Blood lipid profile, sex hormones level, as well as sex organs weight were evaluated. The sex organs weight in oxidised cholesterol-fed group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Spermatozoa count in the group with high serum concentration of OxLDL (64 +/- 4.2x10(6)) was markedly lower (P<0.01) than that of normal rats (87 +/- 4.1x10(6)) and rats with high serum level of LDL (90 +/- 6.3x10(6)). Similarly, the percentage of viable spermatozoa was significantly (P<0.001) decreased from 78% to 52% by high level of OxLDL in serum. While, nonoxidised LDL did not have suppressive effects on spermatogenesis and organs weight. Consistent with these effects, the serum concentration of sex hormones including FSH (P<0.001), LH (P<0.001) and testosterone (P<0.01) was significantly decreased only in rats with high level of OxLDL but not in rats with high level of nonoxidised LDL. In conclusion, high OxLDL level showed higher destructive effect on reproductive system compared to the high LDL level.