Background: Impairment of testicular function is one of complications of
Diabetes mellitus (D.M) and this may result from increased oxidative stress.
Vitamin E (Vit E) has antioxidant properties. Objective: To determine the
microscopic changes in the diabetic testis with metformin alone or with Vit E
and which of them are better to preserve the testicular structure. Materials
and Methods: Fifty adult albino rats, were equally divided into five groups:
Group 1: control group; group 2: diabetic group (diabetes was induced by (65
mg/kg; i.p) single dose of streptozotocin (STZ); group 3: vit.E-treated diabetic
group (200 mg/kg/day) ip; group 4: Metformin-treated diabetic group (100
mg/kg/day) and group 5 Metformin and vit.E-treated diabetic group for eight
weeks. Levels of testosterone, insulin and blood sugar were analyzed and
testes specimens were prepared for light microscope and immunohistochemical
detection of androgen receptor (AR) and caspase-3. Results: In diabetic
group showed irregular seminiferous tubules with depletion, separation, vacuolation
of the spermatogenic cells with perivascular and intertubular fibrosis
also, the mean diameter of tubules significantly decreases. There are negative
immunoexpressions of AR with positive caspase-3. Sections of metformin
treated diabetic group showed incomplete or partial regeneration of germ
cells while in group 4 and 5 showed almost complete regeneration of spermatogenic
cells with increase in mean diameter of tubules, significantly in- creases in AR and decreases in caspase-3 expression. Conclusion: D.M produce
damage in the testicular tissue and the concomitant administration of
vit-E with metformin was shown better effect than metformin alone. |
