Effect of Alpinia officinarum extract on reproductive damages in streptozotocin induced diabetic male rats.

Abstract

Infertility is one of the systemic problems in diabetic men. The purpose of the present study is investigation of the effects of the Alpinia officinarum (AO) hydro-alcoholic extract on the reproductive system damages in diabetic male rats. Twenty four male rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups (n = 6); i.e., control, diabetic control, and diabetic rats treated orally with AO extract (200 and 500mgkg-1). A single dose (60mgkg-1) of streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally (IP) to induce diabetes. After 8weeks of treatment, blood samples, testis, and cauda epididymis were excised to evaluate specific hormonal changes, sperm parameters, and testis morphology. Diabetic control rats showed remarkably lower body and testicular weights, testicular volumes, and sperm parameters compared with the control group (p <0.05). Diabetic control rats also exhibited significantly decreased serum testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Sperm parameters were considerably enhanced in diabetic animals gavaged with AO extract. Testosterone levels were significantly elevated by administrating 500mgkg-1 AO extract to the diabetic control rats (p <0.05). The morphological assessment of testis of treatment group (500mgkg-1) indicated remarkable differences (p <0.05) by increasing the seminiferous tubules diameter (STD) and thickness of the seminiferous epithelium (TSE) compared with diabetic control rats. As demonstrated by the results, AO extract ameliorated sperm damage and improved sperm morphology besides improving histological damage in the testis in diabetic rats. In addition, the dose of 500mgkg-1 worked more efficiently than 200mgkg-1.