Intermittent fasting boosts sexual behavior by limiting the central availability of tryptophan and serotonin

IF 27.7 1区生物学 Q1 CELL BIOLOGY

Cell metabolism Pub Date : 2025-03-28 DOI:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.03.001

Kan Xie, Chengfeng Wang, Enzo Scifo, Brandon Pearson, Devon Ryan, Kristin Henzel, Astrid Markert, Kristina Schaaf, Xue Mi, Xin Tian, Jiajia Jia, Meiqin Wang, Stefan Bonn, Manuel Schölling, Christoph Möhl, Daniele Bano, Yu Zhou, Dan Ehninger

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Abstract

Aging affects reproductive capabilities in males through physiological and behavioral alterations, including endocrine changes and decreased libido. In this study, we investigated the influence of intermittent fasting (IF) on these aging-related declines, using male C57BL/6J mice. Our findings revealed that IF significantly preserved reproductive success in aged mice, not by improving traditional reproductive metrics such as sperm quality or endocrine functions but by enhancing mating behavior. This behavioral improvement was attributed to IF’s ability to counter age-dependent increases in serotonergic inhibition, primarily through the decreased supply of the serotonin precursor tryptophan from the periphery to the brain. Our research underscores the potential of dietary interventions like IF in mitigating age-associated declines in male reproductive health and suggests a novel approach to managing conditions related to reduced sexual desire, highlighting the complex interplay between diet, metabolism, and reproductive behavior.

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间歇性禁食通过限制色氨酸和血清素的中枢可用性来促进性行为

衰老通过生理和行为改变影响男性的生殖能力，包括内分泌变化和性欲下降。在这项研究中，我们研究了间歇性禁食（IF）对雄性C57BL/6J小鼠衰老相关衰退的影响。我们的研究结果表明，IF显著地保持了老年小鼠的生殖成功，不是通过改善传统的生殖指标，如精子质量或内分泌功能，而是通过增强交配行为。这种行为的改善归因于IF能够对抗年龄依赖性的血清素能抑制的增加，主要是通过减少从外周到大脑的血清素前体色氨酸的供应。我们的研究强调了饮食干预（如IF）在缓解与年龄相关的男性生殖健康下降方面的潜力，并提出了一种新的方法来管理与性欲减退有关的疾病，强调了饮食、代谢和生殖行为之间复杂的相互作用。

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来源期刊

Cell metabolism 生物-内分泌学与代谢

CiteScore

48.60

自引率

1.40%

发文量

173

审稿时长

2.5 months

期刊介绍： Cell Metabolism is a top research journal established in 2005 that focuses on publishing original and impactful papers in the field of metabolic research.It covers a wide range of topics including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular biology, aging and stress responses, circadian biology, and many others. Cell Metabolism aims to contribute to the advancement of metabolic research by providing a platform for the publication and dissemination of high-quality research and thought-provoking articles.