The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes
Background: The effect of leptin and rapamycin on sperm parameters and autophagy proteins microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and UNC-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) in rat testes was examined. Methods: For this, Sprague–Dawley rats, aged 12–14 weeks, were randomized into...
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World Scientific Publishing
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Fertility & Reproduction |
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| Online Access: | https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2661318225500069 |
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| author | Suzanna Daud Fayez A. Almabhouh Harbindar Jeet Singh Noor Azean Anis Abdul Aziz Damayanthi Durairajanayagam |
| author_facet | Suzanna Daud Fayez A. Almabhouh Harbindar Jeet Singh Noor Azean Anis Abdul Aziz Damayanthi Durairajanayagam |
| author_sort | Suzanna Daud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The effect of leptin and rapamycin on sperm parameters and autophagy proteins microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and UNC-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) in rat testes was examined. Methods: For this, Sprague–Dawley rats, aged 12–14 weeks, were randomized into control, leptin-, and leptin–rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor)-treated groups. Leptin was given once daily via the intraperitoneal (IP) route at a dose of 60 [Formula: see text]g kg [Formula: see text] body weight for 14 days. Rats in the leptin–rapamycin-treated group received 60 [Formula: see text]g and 2 mg kg [Formula: see text] body weight of leptin and rapamycin, respectively (IP), for 14 days. Controls received 0.1 mL of normal saline (IP). On day 15, the rats were euthanized, and testes and epididymides were collected for sperm count, sperm morphology, LC3, and ULK1 estimation. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: Sperm count was significantly lower, while the fraction of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology was significantly higher in leptin- and leptin–rapamycin-treated rats compared to controls. No significant differences were evident in LC3 and ULK1 levels in testicular tissues between the three groups of rats. Conclusions: It appears that the adverse effects of leptin on sperm and testes in the rat may not involve the mTOR pathway or reduced autophagy. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2661-3182 2661-3174 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | World Scientific Publishing |
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| series | Fertility & Reproduction |
| spelling | doaj-art-10bfca4a7f174d8b9dccac860f657e6b2025-08-20T03:28:14ZengWorld Scientific PublishingFertility & Reproduction2661-31822661-31742025-06-010702677210.1142/S2661318225500069The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat TestesSuzanna Daud0Fayez A. Almabhouh1Harbindar Jeet Singh2Noor Azean Anis Abdul Aziz3Damayanthi Durairajanayagam4Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor, MalaysiaBackground: The effect of leptin and rapamycin on sperm parameters and autophagy proteins microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and UNC-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) in rat testes was examined. Methods: For this, Sprague–Dawley rats, aged 12–14 weeks, were randomized into control, leptin-, and leptin–rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor)-treated groups. Leptin was given once daily via the intraperitoneal (IP) route at a dose of 60 [Formula: see text]g kg [Formula: see text] body weight for 14 days. Rats in the leptin–rapamycin-treated group received 60 [Formula: see text]g and 2 mg kg [Formula: see text] body weight of leptin and rapamycin, respectively (IP), for 14 days. Controls received 0.1 mL of normal saline (IP). On day 15, the rats were euthanized, and testes and epididymides were collected for sperm count, sperm morphology, LC3, and ULK1 estimation. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results: Sperm count was significantly lower, while the fraction of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology was significantly higher in leptin- and leptin–rapamycin-treated rats compared to controls. No significant differences were evident in LC3 and ULK1 levels in testicular tissues between the three groups of rats. Conclusions: It appears that the adverse effects of leptin on sperm and testes in the rat may not involve the mTOR pathway or reduced autophagy.https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2661318225500069LeptinmTOR-pathwayRapamycinSpermAutophagy |
| spellingShingle | Suzanna Daud Fayez A. Almabhouh Harbindar Jeet Singh Noor Azean Anis Abdul Aziz Damayanthi Durairajanayagam The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes Fertility & Reproduction Leptin mTOR-pathway Rapamycin Sperm Autophagy |
| title | The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes |
| title_full | The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes |
| title_short | The Effect of Leptin and Rapamycin on Sperm Count, Sperm Morphology, and Autophagy Proteins ULK1 and LC3 in Rat Testes |
| title_sort | effect of leptin and rapamycin on sperm count sperm morphology and autophagy proteins ulk1 and lc3 in rat testes |
| topic | Leptin mTOR-pathway Rapamycin Sperm Autophagy |
| url | https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2661318225500069 |
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