Effect of fluoride-induced testicular alteration in rats fed a high-fat diet

Previous research on the well-known environmental pollutant fluoride has demonstrated that fluoride exposure can lead to oxidative stress-related male infertility. Obesity is another public health issue that has a detrimental impact on male fertility. Previously, findings on fluoride toxicity in high-fat diet (HFD) conditions associated with oxidative stress have been evidenced. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of subchronic fluoride exposure (5 mg/kg) plus a HFD on testicular alteration in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into four groups (control, HFD, fluoride, and fluoride 5 mg/kg plus HFD). The HFD contained a 50% kcal increase in fat (saturated fat), after 90 days of co-exposure to fluoride plus HFD, the animals showed a significant decrease in the adiposity index. The co-exposed group showed oxidative damage assessed through decreased glutathione (GSH) concentration (p < 0.0001), increased concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.0001), and the oxidation of proteins (p < 0.0001) vs the control group. Finally, testicular histology exhibited a reduction in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The results of the study indicate that under these conditions, subchronic co-exposure to fluoride under HFD conditions could protect against the accumulation of epididymal fat, however, oxidative alteration at the testicular level is maintained.