[The effect of inadequate Vitamin D on sperm quality].

Objective

To analyze the effect of insufficient intake of vitamin D (VD) on sperm quality and male fertility and to discuss the mechanism of the effect.

Methods

VD deficiency mice were fed with VD-deficient diet and light-sheltered. The sperm motility, morphology, ultrastructure, testicular pathology, sex hormones and fertility of normal and VD-deficient mice were analyzed to investigate the effects of VD deficiency on male reproduction.

Results

Compared with the normal group, the mice with VD deficiency had lower sperm concentration[(128±53) ×10(6)/ml vs( 58±15) ×10(6)/ml, P<0.05], less sperm in the epididymis, slightly less mature spermatozoa.The serum testosterone[(328±65 )nmol/L vs(255±58 )nmol/L]and estradiol levels[(60±115) pmol/L vs(384±104) pmol/L]were significantly lower (P<0.05), and the FSH[(296±177)ng/L vs(219±105 )ng/L]and LH[(393±129) ng/L vs(364±108) ng/L]levels were significantly higher (P<0.05). The other tests did not show any significant difference (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The impact of insufficient intake of VD on sperm quality is not prominent, the specific impact of VD on male reproductive needs to be further studied.