EFFECTS OF ASPARTAME ON TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR BETA-INDUCED FACTOR 2 LIKE, X-LINKED (TGIF2LX) IN MALE SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

Aspartame, an artificial non-saccharide sweetener is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. Aspartame has been reported to negatively influence spermatogenesis; a process in which Transforming Growth Factor Beta-Induced Factor 2 Like, X-Linked (TGIF2LX) gene is required for normal cellular proliferation levels and for differentiation processes. The aim
of this study was to investigate the effect of aspartame on Transforming Growth Factor BetaInduced Factor 2 Like, X-Linked (TGIF2LX) in male Sprague Dawley rats, for this study, 31 pre-pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into 5. Group 1 received 0.5ml distilled water, while aspartame was administered orally via gastric gavage at 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, 160
mg/kg, and 320 mg/kg body weight to group 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively for 75 days. The results showed a dose dependent decrease was observed in the relative expression of the TGIF2LX gene amongst the groups administered aspartame, starting from 40 mg/kg aspartame to 160 mg/kg aspartame. In conclusion, the decreased expression might be an indication that aspartame can suppress normal cellular proliferation levels and for differentiation processes rather than stimulate them.