| Objective(s): Most male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience infertility. It is well
established that regular physical activity could alleviate diabetic infertility symptoms. This study was
designed to determine the effect of voluntary exercise on sperm malformation.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (C), diabetic
(D), voluntary exercise (Ex), and diabetic-voluntary exercise (D-Ex) groups. Diabetes was induced by
an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) followed by a high-fat diet for four weeks.
Voluntary exercise was performed by placing the animals in the rotary wheel cages for ten weeks.
Sperm malformations were analyzed. Moreover, the hypothalamic leptin, kisspeptin, kisspeptin
receptors (KissR), as well as plasma LH, FSH, testosterone, and leptin levels were evaluated.
Results: Results showed that induction of T2DM caused increased sperm malformation, plasma,
and hypothalamic leptin as well as decreased hypothalamic kisspeptin, KissR, and plasma LH levels
compared with the C group (P<0.001 to P<0.01). Voluntary exercise in the Ex group increased
hypothalamic KissR, plasma FSH, LH, and testosterone levels compared with the C group; however, it
decreased sperm malformation and hypothalamic leptin levels (P<0.001 to P<0.05). Voluntary exercise
in the D-Ex group reduced sperm malformation, hypothalamic leptin, and plasma testosterone while
elevated hypothalamic kisspeptin and KissR protein levels compared with the D group (P<0.001 to
P<0.01).
Conclusion: The results illustrated voluntary exercise reduces sperm malformations by improving the
HHG axis and kisspeptin/leptin signaling in rats with T2DM. |