The effect of diet-induced obesity on fertility: a comparative study of male and female responses in a Wistar rat model.

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dc.contributor.advisorSkosana, Bongekile T.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBasson, Kristonen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences. Division of Medical Physiology.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-07T19:26:25Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-27T01:20:05Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2024-02-07T19:26:25Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2024-04-27T01:20:05Zen_ZA
dc.date.issued2024-02en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: Obesity has emerged as a major global health problem, affecting many physiological functions, including reproductive health. This study explored the complex relationship between diet-induced obesity (DIO) and fertility, by comparing the different responses of males and females in a Wistar rat animal model. This comparative investigation sought to observe any sex-specific variations in reproductive health in response to the diet, and to elucidate the physiological components that possibly contributed to these differences. 20 Wistar rats (initial body weight = 180 ± 10 grams (g)) were used in this study. The animals were housed at the Central Animal Facility of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, in stainless steel cages containing 4 rats per cage. They were maintained under a 12-hour day and 12-hour night cycle at 22- 25 ºC. Males and females were housed separately and were further divided into two groups, namely the control group and DIO group. The animals were fed the respective diets for 18 weeks. During the 18 weeks, random non-fasting glucose tests and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed to gain insights into glucose homeostasis and possible insulin resistance. Upon sacrifice, spermatozoa morphology and viability were assessed to explore alterations caused by obesity. To assess female reproductive capacity, vaginal smears were performed, which provide an overview of the effect of DIO on the estrous cycle. Biochemical analyses were performed to elucidate the underlying processes responsible for alterations in the reproductive parameters. Hormone analyses were assessed to investigate possible abnormalities in the endocrine system that may be linked to obesity. In addition, oxidative stress was assessed since it is a known contributor to both obesity and reproductive dysfunction. In conclusion, males and females responded differently to the obesogenic diet, with males expressing a more pronounced response in total body fat and adiposity index. https://scholar.sun.ac.za II Sex has an impact on hormone concentrations. Hence, studies solely examining obesity’s hormonal effects in males, cannot be extrapolated to females. This obesogenic diet did not induce oxidative stress or changes in sperm parameters. This study intends to contribute to expanding the knowledge regarding the effects of obesity on reproductive health but also to provide insight regarding sex-specific responses to interventions on fertility in both males and females.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vetsug het as 'n groot globale gesondheidsprobleem na vore gekom. Dit beïnvloed baie fisiologiese funksies, spesifiek die reproduktiewe gesondheid en funksie. Hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek die komplekse verband tussen dieet-geïnduseerde vetsug (DGV) en vrugbaarheid. Die verskillende reaksies van mans en vrouens word ook tydens hierdie navorsingstudie vergelyk en die Wistar rotdiermodel word gebruik. Hierdie navorsingstudie beoog om by te dra tot die uitbreiding van die bestaande kennis rakende die uitwerking van vetsug op reproduktiewe gesondheid, maar streef ook daarna om geslagspesifieke terapeutiese intervensies te fasiliteer om die implikasies van vetsug op vrugbaarheid by beide mans en vrouens te verminder. 20 Wistar-rotte (aanvanklike liggaamsgewig = 180 ± 10 gram (g)) is in hierdie studie gebruik. Die diere is by die Sentrale Dierefasiliteit van die Fakulteit Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe, Universiteit Stellenbosch, in vlekvrye staalhokke gehuisves wat 4 rotte per hok bevat. Hulle is onder 'n 12-uur dag- en 12-uur nag siklus by 22-25 ºC gehou. Mans en wyfies is afsonderlik gehuisves en is verder in twee groepe verdeel, naamlik die kontrolegroep en DIO-groep. Die diere is vir 18 weke met die onderskeie diëte gevoer. Gedurende die 18 weke, die willekeurige nie-vastende glukosetoetse en orale glukosetoleransietoetse (OGTT's) het tydens hierdie studie uitgevoer word om meer insig te verkry oor glukosehomeostase en moontlike insulienweerstandigheid. Die uitwerking van DVG op die diermodel te ondersoek, die antropometriese metings was evalueer deur liggaamsgewig, totale liggaamsvet en adipositeitsindeks te bepaal. Nadat die diere doodgemaak is, spermatosoa morfologie en lewensvatbaarheid sal geassesseer word om veranderinge veroorsaak deur vetsug te ondersoek. Om insig ten opsigte die vroulike voortplantingskapasiteit te bekom, is vaginale smere uitgevoer om sodoende hierdie doelwit, wat 'n waardevolle oorsig van DVG op die estrussiklus bied, te bereik. Om die molekulêre ontledings te ondersoek ten einde onderliggende prosesse, wat verantwoordelik is vir die waargenome veranderinge, te ontsyfer, is van kardinale https://scholar.sun.ac.za IV belang. Hormoonontledings het moontlike abnormaliteite in die endokriene stelsel wat aan vetsug gekoppel kan word, ondersoek. Verder het oksidatiewe stres geassesseer, aangesien dit 'n erkende bydraer tot beide vetsug en reproduktiewe disfunksie is. Ten slotte, mans en vrouens het verskillend gereageer op die obesogeniese dieet, met mans wat 'n meer uitgesproke reaksie in totale liggaamsvet en adipositeitsindeks uitdruk. Seks het 'n impak op hormoonkonsentrasies. Studies wat slegs die hormonale effekte van vetsug by mans ondersoek, kan dus nie na vroue geëkstrapoleer word nie. Hierdie obesogeniese dieet het nie oksidatiewe stres veroorsaak of verander in spermparameters nie. Hierdie studie beoog om by te dra tot die uitbreiding van die kennis rakende die uitwerking van vetsug op reproduktiewe gesondheid, maar ook om insig te gee in rakende geslagspesifieke reaksies op intervensies op vrugbaarheid by beide mans en vrouens.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentxv, 121 pages : illustrationsen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130650en_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshObesity -- Animal modelsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshReproductive healthen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshDiet therapyen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshFemale reproductive systemen_ZA
dc.titleThe effect of diet-induced obesity on fertility: a comparative study of male and female responses in a Wistar rat model.en_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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