Normalization of serum calcium restores fertility in vitamin D-deficient male rats

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 122; no. 6; pp. 1338 - 1344
• Main Authors: Uhland, A.M. (University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI), Kwiecinski, G.G, DeLuca, H.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Nutritional Sciences 01.06.1992; American Institute of Nutrition
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; CALCIO; Calcitriol - therapeutic use; CALCIUM; Calcium - administration & dosage; Calcium - blood; Calcium - therapeutic use; CARENCE EN VITAMINE; DEFICIENCIA DE VITAMINAS; DIETA; Female; FERTILIDAD; FERTILITE; Fertility; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Infertility, Male - blood; Infertility, Male - drug therapy; Infertility, Male - etiology; MACHO; MALE; Mammalian reproduction. General aspects; Medical research; RAT; RATA; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; Rodents; Vertebrates: reproduction; Vitamin D - therapeutic use; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - drug therapy; VITAMINA D; VITAMINE D; Vitamins; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Mammalia; Calcium; Rat; Vitamin D; Cholecalciferol(1,25-dihydroxy); Fertility; Rodentia; Homeostasis; Male; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/122.6.1338

We performed experiments to determine whether treatment with vitamin D or 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol could reverse male infertility caused by vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, an attempt was made to distinguish between a direct and an indirect effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on reproductive tissue. Vitamin D-deficient male rats with impaired fertility were treated with vitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol for 3 wk, then mated. Secondly, vitamin D-deficient male rats were made normocalcemic by increasing dietary calcium, and their fertility was compared with that of vitamin D-deficient, hypocalcemic rats. The fertility of male rats was restored by treatment with either vitamin D or 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. However, fertility was also restored in vitamin D-deficient animals by feeding them a diet supplemented with high levels of calcium. These results indicate that the influence of vitamin D and its active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, on male fertility is indirect. Vitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol seemed to influence male fertility by acting on classic target tissues and regulating levels of calcium in reproductive tissues