Diabetes and Sperm DNA Damage: Efficacy of Antioxidants

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents one of the major threats to human health all over the world, affecting almost every system of the body. Its prevalence is escalating globally and is associated with reproductive impairment in both males and females. Reports on male infertility due to DM is lacking since most affected individuals are unaware of their infertility condition due to the late onset of DM. Glucose metabolism is an imperative occasion in spermatogenesis, causing adverse effects on male fertility, principally on sperm DNA quality, motility, and ingredients of seminal plasma. DM is coupled with an increased oxidative stress (OS), causing sperm nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) hassles the fluidity of sperm plasma membrane, decreases sperm motility and ability to fuse with oocyte as well as altering the sperm DNA integrity. Lamentably, spermatozoa cannot repair the damage initiated by excessive ROS as they do not have the cytoplasmic enzymes required to achieve the repair. Diabetes may impact the epigenetic change during spermatogenesis which may be inherited through male gamete to more than one generation increasing the risk of diabetes in offspring. Administration of antioxidants in male infertility has started to pull in significant intrigue. Many studies have shown that antioxidants amazingly reduce the oxidative stress markers and boost the antioxidant enzymes. Currently treatment strategies are aimed at lowering ROS levels to maintain normal cell function. This review highlights the potential impact of DM on sperm DNA integrity, epigenetic dysregulation and efficacy of antioxidant therapy.