Effect of Creatine Monohydrate Support on Spermatogenesis in a Rat Exercise Model

Nutritional supplements are widely used to enhance athletic performance, as diet is considered as critical as exercise for well-being. Among these, creatine monohydrate is a legally approved and popular example. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on testicular structure and spermatogenesis in rats exposed to moderate-intensity exercise. Twenty male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control (Cont), Creatine (Creat), Exercise (Exc), and Exercise + Creatine (Exc + Creat). Creatine (2 g/kg/day, once daily, 5 days per week for 4 weeks) was dissolved in water and given by gavage. The exercise protocol consisted of moderate treadmill running for 1 month, with 5 days of habituation. Forty-eight hours after the last exercise and creatine, animals were sacrificed. Testes were collected for histopathology, and cardiac blood for oxidant/antioxidant analysis. Sperm counts were lower in both creatine groups, but not statistically significant. The highest sperm motility was in the exercise + creatine group, also not significant. Total Oxidant Status (TOS) was highest in the exercise group, while creatine reduced TOS in both supplemented groups. No significant differences in TOS or Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were found. Testicular morphology, including Leydig cells and vasculature, was similar across groups, with no distinctive changes. The exercise protocol led to a decrease in sperm counts. However, creatine administration in exercise group creatine monohydrate reversed the increase in TOS levels. This finding suggests that creatine’s antioxidant effects could has a long-term influence on sperm counts.