Alteration in iron efflux affects male sex hormone testosterone biosynthesis in a diet-induced obese rat model

Food Funct. 2019 Jul 17;10(7):4113-4123. doi: 10.1039/c8fo01870g.

Abstract

This study was motivated by clinical observations that dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome (DIOS) and an androgen deficiency are common features observed in obese adult men; however, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of DIOS on androgen deficiency remains to be elucidated. We established a DIOS animal model by feeding Sprague-Dawley rats an iron/fat-enriched diet (50% fat plus 0.25, 1, or 2 g ferric iron per kg diet) for 12 weeks to induce iron dysfunction (indicated by decreased tissue iron efflux) in obese rats. Obese rats fed an iron/fat-enriched diet showed decreased levels of testicular total Testosterone (T) and iron exporter ferroportin but increased levels of testicular iron and hepcidin, and these effects were more evident with a >1 g ferric iron per kg diet. A western blot analysis showed that an iron/fat-enriched diet triggered testicular endoplasmic reticular (ER) stress but decreased mitochondrion biogenesis proteins (PGC1α and TFAM) and T-converting proteins (StAR, CYP11A, and 17β-HSD). TUNEL staining showed that >1 g ferric iron induced apoptosis mainly in germ cells and Leydig's cells. Uncontrolled testicular iron efflux may cause mitochondrial-ER dysfunction and affect T biosynthesis. Future study targeting the testicular hepcidin-ferroportin axis may offer a therapeutic tool to alleviate testicular iron retention and mitochondrial-ER stress in Leydig's cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Biological Transport*
  • Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Hepcidins / metabolism
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Iron Overload
  • Leydig Cells
  • Male
  • Mitochondria
  • Models, Animal
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Seminiferous Tubules
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Testis / pathology
  • Testosterone / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Cation Transport Proteins
  • Hepcidins
  • metal transporting protein 1
  • Testosterone
  • Iron