Ameliorative effect of omega-3 on spermatogenesis, testicular antioxidant status and preimplantation embryo development in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Abstract

The present study was done to determine the ameliorative effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid omega-3 against experimental diabetes-induced damages on testicular tissue, sperm parameters and preimplantation embryo development in rat model. Thirty-two mature male rats were divided into two control and test groups. The experimental diabetes (50mgkg-1 streptozotocin, ip) was induced in test group and subdivided into non-treated diabetic, 300 and 600mgkg-1 omega-3-treated (orally by gavage) groups. The rats in control group received 0.5ml saline using intra-gastric gavage. Following 45days, general histopathological changes, serum level of testosterone, inhibin B, glucose, and sperm parameters, testicular total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were analyzed. The mitochondria-dependent apoptosis was investigated by assessing the Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression as well as DNA fragmentation. Finally, the in vitro fertilization (IVF) potential was examined by evaluating preimplantation embryo developing. The omega-3 significantly ameliorated the diabetes-induced histological damages, diminished serum level of glucose, testicular MDA content, and enhanced the serum testosterone, inhibin B and testicular TAC. The animals in omega-3-treated groups exhibited a significant (p<0.05) up-regulation in Bcl-2, as well as remarkable (p<0.05) down-regulation in caspase-3 expression compared to non-treated diabetic rats. Moreover, the omega-3 maintained DNA integrity, improved sperm quality as well as preimplantation embryo development. Our data showed that the omega-3 (especially at 600mgkg-1 dose level) effectively ameliorates the experimental diabetes-induced infertility in rats by up-regulating the testicular endocrine and antioxidant statuses, preventing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway and potentially improving the sperm quality.