The effects of feeding an Asian or Western diet on sperm numbers, sperm quality and serum hormone levels in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) injected with testosterone enanthate (TE) plus depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of an Asian diet compare d to a Western diet on sperm numbers and quality, and serum hormones in cyn omolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) injected with testosterone enanthate (TE) plus depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Thirty male monkeys wer e divided into three groups often animals each. The first group (control) w as fed with standard diet 'monkey chow' (9% fat, 13% protein, 78% carbohydr ate); the second group was fed an 'asian' diet (15% fat, 15% protein, 70% c arbohydrate) the third group was fed a 'Western' diet (35% fat, 25% protein , 40% carbohydrate). These diets were administered from the beginning (adap tation) until the experiment was terminated. Three months after the adaptat ion period, all groups were injected with TC) mg TE (once per week) and 25 mg DMPA (once every 6 weeks) for 18 weeks, while TE injections were continu ed for another 6 weeks. There were no differences in sperm numbers and dual ity, or in hormone levels between the first and second groups. Tn both of t hese groups azoospermia was achieved in 100% of animals, while: in the thir d group only 70% achieved azoospermia. In all 3 groups, spermatozoa were on ce again detectable by week 33. However, by the end of the study at week 39 , sperm numbers in the first and second groups reached only severe oligozoo spermia (two animals remained azoospermic in the first group) while in die third group, numbers had returned to normozoospermia. The duality of sperma tozoa during and after the treatment in the third group was better than in the first and second groups. Hormone concentrations decreased more rapidly in both the first and second groups, compared to the third group, while the recovery period was slower in the first and second groups, compared to the third group. it is concluded that different formula diets result in differ ential decreases in sperm numbers and duality, and in hormone concentration s in M. fascicularis injected with TE in combination with DMPA.. Animals fe d with either monkey chow or an Asian diet exhibited more severe and prolon ged decreases in these parameters than did animals fed with a Western diet.