Hadh deficiency induced oligoasthenoteratozoospermia through the TNF ‐α/Bcl‐2 pathway in male mice

Abstract The process of spermatogenesis is a complex and delicate process that is still not fully understood. In this study, we examined the role of fatty acid oxidase 3‐hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (HADH) in maintaining normal spermatogenesis in mice. In male mice, ablation of the Hadh gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology arrested spermatocyte meiosis, increased multinucleated giant germ cells and vacuoles in seminiferous tubules, and accompanied with acrosomal dysplasia. Hadh −/− male mice showed the typical features of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), including decreased sperm concentration and motility and increased sperm abnormalities. Next, we explored the molecular events in the testes of the mutant mice. We found fatty acids accumulated in the testis of Hadh −/− mice. And also, inflammatory factors TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 were significantly increased, apoptosis‐related protein Bcl‐2 was decreased, and Bax and cleaved‐Caspase3 were increased in Hadh −/− male mice testis. After using etanercept, a specific inhibitor of TNF‐α, testis injury caused by Hadh knockout was significantly alleviated, the sperm quality and motility were improved, and germ cell apoptosis was reduced. So our study demonstrated that Hadh deletion caused an increase in fatty acids. The accumulated fatty acids further induced testicular inflammation and germ cell apoptosis through the TNF‐α/Bcl‐2 signaling pathway, finally resulting in OAT in the Hadh −/− mice. Inhibiting TNF‐α may be used as a new treatment approach for testicular inflammation and OAT.