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Supplementation with specific branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) affects mouse sperm parameters and testicular apoptotic gene expression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2025

Roya Kamali ,
Leila Rashki Ghaleno Open the ORCID record for Leila Rashki Ghaleno [Opens in a new window] ,
Amin Izadi Open the ORCID record for Amin Izadi [Opens in a new window] ,
Zahra-Sadat Ghasemi Open the ORCID record for Zahra-Sadat Ghasemi [Opens in a new window] ,
Vahid Esmaeili Open the ORCID record for Vahid Esmaeili [Opens in a new window] ,
Nima Eila Open the ORCID record for Nima Eila [Opens in a new window] ,
Adel Pezeshki Open the ORCID record for Adel Pezeshki [Opens in a new window] ,
Joël R. Drevet Open the ORCID record for Joël R. Drevet [Opens in a new window] ,
Abdolhossein Shahverdi Open the ORCID record for Abdolhossein Shahverdi [Opens in a new window]  and
AliReza Alizadeh Moghadam Masouleh Open the ORCID record for AliReza Alizadeh Moghadam Masouleh [Opens in a new window]
Roya Kamali
Affiliation:
Department of Cellular & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
Leila Rashki Ghaleno
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
Amin Izadi
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
Zahra-Sadat Ghasemi
Affiliation:
Animal Core Facility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
Vahid Esmaeili
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
Nima Eila
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
Adel Pezeshki
Affiliation:
Department of Animal & Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
Joël R. Drevet
Affiliation:
EVALSEM, GReD Institute, CRBC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, 63000, France
Abdolhossein Shahverdi
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran Department of Basic and Population Based Studies in NCD, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
AliReza Alizadeh Moghadam Masouleh*
Affiliation:
Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran Department of Basic and Population Based Studies in NCD, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran gyn-medicum, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Göttingen, Germany Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
*
Corresponding author: AliReza Alizadeh Moghadam Masouleh; Emails: alizadehmasouleh@royaninstitute.org; ar.alizadehmasouleh@royan-rc.ac.ir
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Summary

In Western diets, high consumption of meat and dairy products, known to be rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), and valine (Val), as well as BCAAs supplementation itself, may have unforeseen consequences on sperm quality. In addition, bodybuilders are increasingly resorting to BCAA supplementation to build-up their muscle mass. This study aimed to assess the effect of dietary BCAAs, provided alone or in combination, on semen parameters, apoptotic gene expression, and blood amino acid (AA) profiles. To address this question and determine whether these different BCAAs have a distinct impact on sperm quality and testicular homeostasis, fifty NMRI mature male mice were exposed or not to BCAAs supplementations (control diet: CTR; CTR + Leu supplementation; CTR + Ile supplementation; CTR + Val supplementation; CTR + all three BCAA supplementation). Only valine supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in sperm concentration and viability. In addition, only valine supplementation was associated with a dramatic increase in sperm immotility. The Bax/Bcl2 ratio, an indicator of apoptosis, was found to be significantly higher in the testes of BCAA-supplemented animals when compared with the other groups. Caspase3 expression was also significantly higher in the testes of BCAA-supplemented and Val-supplemented animals. There were no significant differences in plasma AA profiles between groups. Thus, amongst BCAAs, valine supplementation appears to carry the greatest effect on sperm functional parameters and testicular apoptotic status.

Keywords

Apoptosisdietary branched-chain amino acidsmicesemen qualityvaline
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , April 2025 , pp. 105 - 113
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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