Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Protein Levels in Sperm of Obese Men with and without Diabetes; Cellular Approach in Male Infertility

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

5 Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective:
Although the role of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in male infertility is well established, little information
about the underlying cellular mechanisms in infertility is available. In this sense, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) has
been recognized as an important regulator in obesity and DM; However, its function in the pathogenesis of male
infertility has never been studied in obese or men who suffer from diabetes. Therefore, the main goal of current research
is assessing NF-kB existence and activity in ejaculated human spermatozoa considering the obesity and diabetics
condition of males.

Materials and Methods:
In an experimental study, the ELISA technique was applied to analyze NF-kB levels in sperm
of four experimental groups: non-obese none-diabetic men (body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2; control group; n=30),
obese non-diabetic men (BMI >30 kg/m2; OB group; n=30), non-obese diabetic men (BMI <25 kg/m2; DM group; n=30),
and obese diabetic men (BMI >30 kg/m2; OB-DM group; n=30) who were presented to Royan Institute Infertility Center.
In addition, protein localization was shown by Immunocytofluorescent assay. Sperm features were also evaluated using
CASA.

Results:
The diabetic men were older than non-diabetic men regardless of obesity status (P=0.0002). Sperm progressive
motility was affected by obesity (P=0.035) and type A sperm progressive motility was affected by DM (P=0.034). The
concentration of sperm (P=0.013), motility (P=0.025) and morphology (P<0.0001) were altered by obesity × diabetes
interaction effects. The NF-kB activity was negatively influenced by the main impact of diabetics (P=0.019). Obesity
did not affect (P=0.248) NF-kB activity. Uniquely, NF-kB localized to the midpiece of sperm and post-acrosomal areas.

Conclusion:
The current study indicated a lower concentration of NF-kB in diabetic men, no effect of obesity on NF-kB
was observed yet. Additionally, we revealed the main obesity and diabetes effects, and their interaction effect adversely
influenced sperm characteristics.

Keywords


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