Journal Article

DZNE-2025-00597

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Intermittent fasting boosts sexual behavior by limiting the central availability of tryptophan and serotonin.

Xie, K. (First author)DZNE* ; Wang, C. ; Scifo, E.DZNE* ; Pearson, B.DZNE* ; Ryan, D.DZNE* ; Henzel, K.DZNE* ; Markert, A.DZNE* ; Schaaf, K.DZNE* ; Mi, X. ; Tian, X. ; Jia, J. ; Wang, M. ; Bonn, S.Extern* ; Schölling, M.DZNE* ; Möhl, C.DZNE* ; Bano, D.DZNE* ; Zhou, Y. ; Ehninger, D. (Last author)DZNE*

2025
Elsevier Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.03.001

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.

Keyword(s): Animals (MeSH) ; Tryptophan: metabolism (MeSH) ; Serotonin: metabolism (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Fasting: physiology (MeSH) ; Mice, Inbred C57BL (MeSH) ; Sexual Behavior, Animal: physiology (MeSH) ; Mice (MeSH) ; Aging: physiology (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Intermittent Fasting (MeSH) ; aging ; amino acid metabolism ; brain ; fertility ; intermittent fasting ; male ; reproduction ; serotonin ; sexual behavior ; tryptophan ; Tryptophan ; Serotonin

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Translational Biogerontology (AG Ehninger)
2. Image and Data Analysis (CRFS-IDAF) (IDAF)
3. Aging and Neurodegeneration (AG Bano)

Research Program(s):

1. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)
2. 351 - Brain Function (POF4-351) (POF4-351)
3. 899 - ohne Topic (POF4-899) (POF4-899)

Experiment(s):

1. Image and Data Analysis Facility (CRFS-IDAF) / Bonn

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 25 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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