Frequent inadequate supply of micronutrients in fast food induces oxidative stress and inflammation in testicular tissues of weanling male rats

ABSTRACT

Fast food has increasingly become a prominent feature of the diet of children, throughout the world. It is high in energy density and low in essential micronutrient density. One of the most essential biological elements for male reproductive tissue is zinc [Zn] of known antioxidant dependent processes. The aim of the present work was to test the hypothesis that frequent fast food consumption could induce oxidative damage associated with inflammation in weanling male rats in relevance to Zn deprivation that can adversely affect testis function. Twenty male wistar rats [50 +/- 10 gm] were used in the present study. Ten rats were placed on a typical fast food while the other ten rats were fed normal chow diet [controls]. Zn and iron [in plasma and testicular tissue], plasma antioxidant vitamins [A, E, and C], as well as testicular superoxide dismutase [SOD] and reduced glutathione [GSH], lipid peroxidation indexes [TBARS and lipoprotein oxidation susceptibility [LOS]], and inflammatory markers [plasma CRP and testicular TNF-alpha] were determined. Serum testosterone in addition to histological examination of testis was also performed. We found severe decrease in antioxidant vitamins, and Zn with concomitant iron accumulation. Simultaneous TBARS and LOS increase with SOD and GSH decrease demonstrated enhanced oxidative stress and consequently regulation of the proinflammatory mediators; CRP and TNF-alpha, therefore testosterone level was significantly reduced. Microscope examination showed damage in seminiferous tubules and cellular infiltrate in interstitial regions. We conclude that frequent fast food supply in weanling male rats enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation in testicular tissue in relevance to micronutrients deficiency especially Zn, in turn leading to the underdevelopment of the testis and the abnormal level of testosterone hormone