Influence of diet on testicular function

The experimental study was conducted on thirty-five male rats aged 21 days at the start. Each rat was used to study the influence of malnutrition on testicular germ cell function. Three key stages of testicular activity were taken into account in this study: age at weaning (21 days after birth); the juvenile period (31 days after birth); and age at puberty (41 days after birth). The animals were divided into three groups: a control group fed ad libitum; a group fed 25% less than the normal amount (moderate restriction); and a group fed 50% less than the normal amount (severe restriction). The results obtained and their statistical analysis show that dietary restriction, whether moderate or severe, results in weight loss, growth retardation, and blocked spermatogenesis from weaning onwards, whereas under normal ad libitum feeding conditions, testicular germ function is complete at 41 days of age. In other words, at the presumed age of puberty.