The Improvement of Fertility by Switching to Normal Diet and Restoring BTB Integrity in HFD-Induced Obese Male Mice

Abstract

Abstract Obesity is a prominent risk factor for male infertility, and a high-fat diet is an important cause of obesity. Therefore, diet control can reduce body weight and regulate blood glucose and lipids, but it remains unclear whether it can improve male fertility and its mechanism. This study explores the effects of switching from a high-fat diet (HFD) to a normal diet (ND) on the fertility of obese male mice and its related mechanisms. The mice in the high-fat diet group indicated elevated lipids and blood glucose, decreased serum FSH, and disrupted testicular BTB integrity, reducing fertility. After the fat intake was controlled by switching to a normal diet, body weight and epididymal fat weight were significantly reduced, and the deposition of interstitial lipids in the testicles also decreased. Following further analysis, the testicular oxidative stress levels were reduced to normal, and BTB integrity was restored, ultimately leading to increased fertility. Our study confirms diet control by switching from a high-fat diet to a normal diet can effectively reduce body weight, improve BTB integrity in male mice, and enhance fertility, providing an effective treatment option for obese male infertility.