Role of irisin administration in modulating testicular function in adult obese albino rats

Extract

Background: Irisin, exercise-induced myokine, is known to improve obesity-induced metabolic disturbances by enhancing thermogenesis and increasing energy expenditure. Recent studies have reported that irisin promoted cell proliferation and protected cells from apoptosis. However, the effects of irisin on testicular function in obese rats is still to be investigated.

Objective: This study was designed to explore the probable effects of irisin treatment on modulating the adverse effects of obesity on testicular functions with a trial to clarify some of the possible underlying mechanisms.

Design: Thirty adult male wistar albino rats (200 ± 30g) were divided equally into 3 groups, group (I): Saline-vehicle treated normal fed group, group (II): Saline-vehicle treated rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. group (III): Irisin treated HFD-fed rats for 10 weeks and irisin was injected subcutaneously (150 µl daily for 4 weeks). Rats were weighed and serum levels of glucose, insulin, lipid profile, FSH, LH, estradiol & testosterone levels, epididymal sperm count and motility, testicular malondialdhyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, testicular and epidydimal fat weights were estimated. Testicular histopathological study was done as well.