Fatty acid compositions of immature and mature testis are differently responsive to dietary docosahexasenoic acid during development in rats exposed to prenatal ethanol.

BACKGROUND: Ethanol (EtOH) exposure impairs, but docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supports testis functions. This study investigated whether dietary DHA and prenatal EtOH exposure affected fatty acid profiles equally in immature and mature testis during developmental stages. METHODS: Female rats were exposed to ± EtOH (3g/kg BW, twice a day via gavage) throughout pregnancy, while consuming a diet supplemented ± DHA (1.4%, w/w). Pups were continued on their mother's diet after weaning with testes collected for fatty acid analysis at different stages of reproductive development, at gestational day 20 (GD20) and postnatal day (PD) 4, 21, 49, and 90, to present fetal, neonatal, weaning, prepubertal and adult stages, respectively. RESULTS: Regardless of EtOH exposure, dietary DHA significantly increased in testis DHA at all ages, with testis at weaning and prepuberty being more responsive to the diet (p<0.0002). Immature testis at GD20 and PD4 contained more DHA than n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (n-6 DPA) compared to mature testis while being well responsive to the maternal DHA diet through gestation and lactation. The level of n-6 very long chain fatty acids and (VLCFA) and n-6 DPA, distinctively increased from weaning and prepuberty, respectively, and were not reduced by the DHA diet at prepuberty and adulthood. Prenatal EtOH minimally affected testis fatty acids during development. CONCLUSION: Immature and mature testis responds differently to dietary DHA. The age around sexual maturity might be a critical time for dietary intervention as testis was more responsive to diet at this time point. The increase in DPA and n-6 VLCFA in matured testis while not affected by dietary DHA, indicates their critical roles in male reproductive function in rodents.

A pilot study on the effect of early provision of dietary docosahexaenoic acid on testis development, functions, and sperm quality in rats exposed to prenatal ethanol.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal ethanol (EtOH) exposure is associated with adverse effect on the male reproductive function. Dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is known to improve testis function and sperm parameters, thereby male fertility. This study piloted whether dietary DHA influences testis development and function in rats exposed to prenatal EtOH. METHODS: Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30) received either EtOH (3 g/kg, twice a day, n = 14) or dextrose (n = 16) throughout pregnancy. Moreover, they were fed either diet supplemented with (Cont + DHA, n = 8, EtOH + DHA, n = 6) or without DHA (1.4% w/w of total fatty acids) (Cont, EtOH, n = 8 each), with pups being continued on their mothers' diet after weaning. Tissues were collected at gestational day (GD) 20, postnatal day (PD) 4, 21, 49 and 90 for analyzing testicular developmental markers and sperm parameters, and plasma for testosterone. RESULTS: Dietary DHA increased serum testosterone at GD20 (p < .05) and sperm normal morphology at PD90 (p < .0001) compared to the group without DHA supplementation. Dietary DHA also increased the height of germinal epithelium at peripuberty, PD49 (p < .03). The EtOH exposure induced a marked decline in the testicular gene expression of StAR at PD49 (p < .02) than those of non-EtOH treated group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that dietary DHA may positively contribute to male fertility by impacting sperm normal morphology likely by increasing fetal testosterone level. Prenatal EtOH exposure did not adversely affect the overall testis developmental markers during development and sperm parameters in adulthood.