Effects of Aging and Dietary Phytoestrogens on Sperm Production in Sprague Dawley Rats
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Negative effects of phytoestrogens during development are well documented, but their effects on adult function, or during aging, are still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of removing dietary phytoestrogens during aging on sperm production. SUBJECTS: Fifteen Sprague Dawley rats were obtained at 9 months of age, divided into three groups, and housed until 15 or 18 months of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One group of animals was switched to a low phytoestrogen diet at 15 months, while a second group was maintained on the high phytoestrogen diet. Both groups were maintained on their respective diets for three months at which point they were euthanized and reproductive tissues collected for analysis. A third group of animals was euthanized and tissues collected at 15 months. ANALYSES: Data was analyzed by ANOVA and tukey’s post-hoc multiple comparison tests. RESULTS: Daily sperm production in both groups of 18 month animals was significantly lower than 15 months of age indicating an age-associated decrease. However, daily sperm production at 18 months was not different between animals consuming the high and low phytoestrogen diets. Sperm per gram of testis was significantly lower at 18 months suggesting that the decline in daily sperm production with age results from a diminished efficiency of spermatogenesis. CONCLUSION: These results support the notion that sperm production decreases with age and suggest that removal of dietary phytoestrogens does not affect the age related decline in efficiency of spermatogenesis and daily sperm production.
Effects of Aging and Dietary Phytoestrogens on Sperm Production in Sprague Dawley Rats
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Negative effects of phytoestrogens during development are well documented, but their effects on adult function, or during aging, are still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of removing dietary phytoestrogens during aging on sperm production. SUBJECTS: Fifteen Sprague Dawley rats were obtained at 9 months of age, divided into three groups, and housed until 15 or 18 months of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One group of animals was switched to a low phytoestrogen diet at 15 months, while a second group was maintained on the high phytoestrogen diet. Both groups were maintained on their respective diets for three months at which point they were euthanized and reproductive tissues collected for analysis. A third group of animals was euthanized and tissues collected at 15 months. ANALYSES: Data was analyzed by ANOVA and tukey’s post-hoc multiple comparison tests. RESULTS: Daily sperm production in both groups of 18 month animals was significantly lower than 15 months of age indicating an age-associated decrease. However, daily sperm production at 18 months was not different between animals consuming the high and low phytoestrogen diets. Sperm per gram of testis was significantly lower at 18 months suggesting that the decline in daily sperm production with age results from a diminished efficiency of spermatogenesis. CONCLUSION: These results support the notion that sperm production decreases with age and suggest that removal of dietary phytoestrogens does not affect the age related decline in efficiency of spermatogenesis and daily sperm production.