The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice

Abstract Background Obesity-induced oligoasthenospermia is associated with testicular lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying the lipid homeostasis imbalance of obesity-induced oligoasthenospermia are unclear. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were established for the in viv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Min Pan, Jingya Li, Yujia Wang, Ziao Liu, Li Li, Tongsheng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01327-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849333392211968000
author Min Pan
Jingya Li
Yujia Wang
Ziao Liu
Li Li
Tongsheng Wang
author_facet Min Pan
Jingya Li
Yujia Wang
Ziao Liu
Li Li
Tongsheng Wang
author_sort Min Pan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Obesity-induced oligoasthenospermia is associated with testicular lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying the lipid homeostasis imbalance of obesity-induced oligoasthenospermia are unclear. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were established for the in vivo model. TM3/TM4 cells were treated with palmitic acid (PA) in vitro. Proteomics analyzed differential proteins in the testis. The Oil red O and Nile red were used to observe lipid droplets (LDs). Filipin staining was used to observe free cholesterol (FC). Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr), Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expressions were analyzed using qRT-PCR, WB, Immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Testosterone synthesis and Blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity were evaluated by ELISA, Transmission electron microscope, and WB. Results HFD mice exhibited elevated blood lipid, reduced sperm quality, and hormonal imbalances. Meanwhile, testosterone synthesis was impaired, and BTB was damaged in HFD mice. In vivo and in vitro models, LDs deposition was observed, and HSL expression was down-regulated in Leydig and Sertoli cells. However, the expressions of cholesterol uptake receptors and efflux transporters, as well as the levels of FC, in the two cells were inconsistent. In Leydig cells, the expression of cholesterol uptake receptors (LDLr and SR-BI) was upregulated, resulting in increased FC levels. In Sertoli cells, cholesterol efflux transporter (ABCA1) expression was upregulated, and FC levels decreased. Overexpression of HSL ameliorated LDs accumulation and increased testosterone levels. Conclusion The down-regulation of HSL and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter may affect lipid homeostasis, thereby damaging testicular function.
format Article
id doaj-art-4cf274dbd1694089b2b352d14e7ad164
institution Kabale University
issn 1528-3658
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Molecular Medicine
spelling doaj-art-4cf274dbd1694089b2b352d14e7ad1642025-08-20T03:45:52ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582025-08-0131111810.1186/s10020-025-01327-xThe downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia miceMin Pan0Jingya Li1Yujia Wang2Ziao Liu3Li Li4Tongsheng Wang5Pharmacological Department of the College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese MedicinePharmacological Department of the College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineBasic Medical College, Hebei Medical UniversityPharmacological Department of the College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese MedicinePharmacological Department of the College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese MedicinePharmacological Department of the College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Background Obesity-induced oligoasthenospermia is associated with testicular lipid metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying the lipid homeostasis imbalance of obesity-induced oligoasthenospermia are unclear. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet were established for the in vivo model. TM3/TM4 cells were treated with palmitic acid (PA) in vitro. Proteomics analyzed differential proteins in the testis. The Oil red O and Nile red were used to observe lipid droplets (LDs). Filipin staining was used to observe free cholesterol (FC). Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr), Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expressions were analyzed using qRT-PCR, WB, Immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Testosterone synthesis and Blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity were evaluated by ELISA, Transmission electron microscope, and WB. Results HFD mice exhibited elevated blood lipid, reduced sperm quality, and hormonal imbalances. Meanwhile, testosterone synthesis was impaired, and BTB was damaged in HFD mice. In vivo and in vitro models, LDs deposition was observed, and HSL expression was down-regulated in Leydig and Sertoli cells. However, the expressions of cholesterol uptake receptors and efflux transporters, as well as the levels of FC, in the two cells were inconsistent. In Leydig cells, the expression of cholesterol uptake receptors (LDLr and SR-BI) was upregulated, resulting in increased FC levels. In Sertoli cells, cholesterol efflux transporter (ABCA1) expression was upregulated, and FC levels decreased. Overexpression of HSL ameliorated LDs accumulation and increased testosterone levels. Conclusion The down-regulation of HSL and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter may affect lipid homeostasis, thereby damaging testicular function.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01327-xObesity with oligoasthenospermiaLipid homeostasisHSLCholesterol receptorsCholesterol transporterTesticular function
spellingShingle Min Pan
Jingya Li
Yujia Wang
Ziao Liu
Li Li
Tongsheng Wang
The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice
Molecular Medicine
Obesity with oligoasthenospermia
Lipid homeostasis
HSL
Cholesterol receptors
Cholesterol transporter
Testicular function
title The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice
title_full The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice
title_fullStr The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice
title_full_unstemmed The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice
title_short The downregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors/transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in HFD-induced oligoasthenospermia mice
title_sort downregulation of hormone sensitive lipase and dysregulation of cholesterol receptors transporter affect testicular lipid homeostasis and function in hfd induced oligoasthenospermia mice
topic Obesity with oligoasthenospermia
Lipid homeostasis
HSL
Cholesterol receptors
Cholesterol transporter
Testicular function
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01327-x
work_keys_str_mv AT minpan thedownregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT jingyali thedownregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT yujiawang thedownregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT ziaoliu thedownregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT lili thedownregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT tongshengwang thedownregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT minpan downregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT jingyali downregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT yujiawang downregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT ziaoliu downregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT lili downregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice
AT tongshengwang downregulationofhormonesensitivelipaseanddysregulationofcholesterolreceptorstransporteraffecttesticularlipidhomeostasisandfunctioninhfdinducedoligoasthenospermiamice