The effect of endurance training with Maca or ginger on steroidogenesis and antioxidant status of testicular tissue in male rats.

Today's primary approach to enhancing reproductive function involves lifestyle modifications, dietary adjustments, the use of herbal supplements, and regular exercise. In this study, we tried to show that the use of ginger or Maca supplements along with endurance training can affect reproductive function indicators, including spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in testicular tissue. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 42, weight: 220 ± 20 g, age: 10-12 weeks) were randomly divided into six equal groups. The groups included control, ginger (100 mg/kg body weight), Maca (100 mg/kg body weight), endurance training (ET), ET + ginger and ET + Maca. Tissue levels of testosterone were measured along with the expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis (P450Scc, P450c17, HSD17β3, and P450 aromatase) and genes involved in its regulation (LHR, FSHR, GR, and SGP-1). Spermatogenesis was assessed by counting the number of spermatogenic cells (spermatogonia and spermatocytes), Leydig and Sertoli cells, and characteristics of the seminiferous tubules. Testicular levels of GPx, MDA, and TAC were evaluated. The gene expression of P450Scc and P450c17 were upregulated in the ginger (P = 0.03) (P = 0.03), endurance training (P = 0.02) (P = 0.003) and endurance training + ginger (P = 0.01) (P = 0.001) groups compared to the control group, respectively. The testicular expression of P450 aromatase gene increased in the endurance training (P = 0.007) and the endurance training + ginger (P = 0.049) groups compared to the control group. The results of P450Scc gene expression was upregulated in the endurance training (P = 0.001) and endurance training + Maca (P = 0.01) groups compared to the control group. Also, the expression of P450c17 was increased in the endurance training (P = 0.0005) and endurance training + Maca (P = 0.0014) groups compared to the control group. No significant difference was observed in the testicular expression of genes involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis (LHR, FSHR, and SGP-1) among all groups. The results indicated that the GR gene was up-regulated in the endurance training + ginger group compared to the ginger (P = 0.03) and endurance training group (P = 0.04). The level of TAC as oxidative parameter was increased in the endurance training + Maca group compared to the control (P = 0.0182), the Maca (P = 0.0008), and the endurance training (P = 0.02) groups. The level of MDA was decreased in endurance training + ginger group compared to the ginger (P = 0.01) and endurance training (P = 0.01) groups. The GPx activity indicated a protective effect and improved oxidative status in testicular tissue in the Maca, the ginger and the endurance training groups. Consistent with our steroidogenesis results, spermatogenesis parameters were significantly increased by Maca, ginger, endurance training, and their combination with endurance training compared to the control group (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that consuming ginger or Maca along with endurance training can strengthen the antioxidant system in testicular tissue and enhance steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis.