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Zinc-Deficient Diet Causes Imbalance in Zinc Homeostasis and Impaired Autophagy and Impairs Semen Quality in Mice

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Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for human growth and its deficiency causes huge health impacts. The present study was conducted to examine the mechanisms by which Zn-deficient diet impairs reproductive function and its reversibility. Hence, SPF grade male Kunming (KM) mice were divided into three groups. Zn-normal diet group (ZN group) was provided with Zn-normal diet (Zn content = 30 mg/kg, DY19410Y) for 8 weeks. Zn-deficient diet group (ZD group) was provided with Zn-deficient diet (Zn content < 1 mg/kg, DY19401) for 8 weeks. Zn-deficient and Zn-normal diet group (ZDN group) was provided with 4 weeks Zn-deficient diet followed by 4 weeks Zn-normal diet. After 8 weeks, the overnight-fasted mice were sacrificed, and blood and organs were collected for further analysis. The results showed that Zn-deficient diet caused testicular structural disorders, decreased semen quality, imbalance in zinc homeostasis, and impaired autophagy. Semen quality, testosterone, serum Zn, testicular tissue Zn, testicular free Zn ions, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), zinc transporter 7(ZnT7), Beclin1, autophagy-related 5(ATG5), and the ratio of light chain 3(LC3) II/LC3I were significantly decreased, and ZnT4, Zrt-, Irt-like protein7 (ZIP7), and ZIP13 expression were significantly increased in ZD group mice, while the changes in above indicators caused by Zn-deficient diet were significantly alleviated in the ZDN group. It was concluded that Zn-deficient diet causes testicular structural disorders and decreased semen quality by causing imbalances in Zn homeostasis and impaired autophagy in male mice. Reproductive damages caused by Zn-deficient diet are reversible, and Zn-normal diet can alleviate them.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This study was sponsored by S&T Program of Hebei (grant no. 20377715D; 21377796D) and Hebei Natural Science Foundation (grant no. H2021314001).

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Author notes

  1. Bo Sun and Jing Ma contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China

    Bo Sun, Liger Te, Junsheng Liu, Yuejia Li & Shusong Wang

  2. NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy, Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Institute of Reproductive Health Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050071, China

    Jing Ma & Shusong Wang

  3. School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China

    Xin Zuo & Shusong Wang

  4. Chengde Medical University, Chengde, 067000, China

    Jiajie Bi & Shusong Wang

Authors
  1. Bo Sun
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  2. Jing Ma
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  3. Liger Te
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  4. Xin Zuo
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  5. Junsheng Liu
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  6. Yuejia Li
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  8. Shusong Wang
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Contributions

Bo Sun, Liger Te, Xin Zuo, Junsheng Liu, Yuejia Li, and Jiajie Bi collected the samples and performed the experiments. Bo Sun and Jing Ma analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. Jing Ma and Shusong Wang conceived the idea, designed the study, collected the funds, and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shusong Wang.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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All animal experiments were conducted according to the ethical guidelines of ethics committee of the Hebei Institute of Reproductive Health Science and Technology.

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Sun, B., Ma, J., Te, L. et al. Zinc-Deficient Diet Causes Imbalance in Zinc Homeostasis and Impaired Autophagy and Impairs Semen Quality in Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 2396–2406 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03324-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03324-1

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