Abstract
BackgroundDiabetes mellitus with the successive generation of reactive oxygen species signifies a major risk factor for testicular dysfunction. Antioxidant supplements are one of the best options to prevent such disorder. In the present study, lutein as dietary supplement has been used to explore its potential protective effects against diabetes-induced oxidative stress in testicular cells.MethodsDiabetes was induced using a single IP injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Lutein was mixed with rat chow powder and supplemented to diabetic rats for 5 weeks. Serum testosterone levels were estimated. In testicular cells, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total sulfhydryl groups (T-GSH), non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured. Pro-inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were measured in the testis. Nucleic acids and total protein (TP) levels were also estimated in testicular cells. Histopathological changes were evaluated in testis.ResultsSerum testosterone level was significantly decreased in diabetic animals compared to controls. Diabetes markedly reduced T-GSH, NP-SH, CAT and SOD, while TBARS, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were increased in the diabetic testis compared to non-diabetic controls. Lutein supplementation, significantly and dose dependently increased the serum testosterone level. The elevated TBARS levels were significantly decreased compared to diabetic group, while the decreased levels of T-GSH and NP-SH and activities of CAT and SOD were found increased by lutein treatments in dose dependent manner. Lutein pretreatment also inhibited the TNF-α and IL-1β levels compared to diabetic group. The decreased values of nucleic acids and total protein in diabetic group were also significantly increased in lutein supplemented groups. The histopathological evaluation revealed protection the damaged testicular cells in the diabetic rats by lutein supplementation.ConclusionThese findings showed that lutein has potential beneficial effects in diabetes-induced testicular damage, probably through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus with the successive generation of reactive oxygen species signifies a major risk factor for testicular dysfunction
Persistent hyperglycemia leads to the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) which are the products of non-enzymatic reactions between glucose and lipids, proteins or nucleic acids [7]
reactive oxygen species (ROS) are positively correlated with both insulin resistance and the deterioration of cell function in the context of concomitant hyperglycemia [6, 8] and their cytotoxic effects are usually accompanied with an increase in lipid peroxidation, alteration of the glutathione redox state, a decrease in the content of individual natural antioxidants, and decreased induction of antioxidant enzymes [9]
Summary
Diabetes mellitus with the successive generation of reactive oxygen species signifies a major risk factor for testicular dysfunction. Lutein as dietary supplement has been used to explore its potential protective effects against diabetes-induced oxidative stress in testicular cells. AGEs and glucose auto-oxidation might contribute to diabetes-induced sexual dysfunction by generating oxygen free radicals especially reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce oxidative cellular damage and quench nitric oxide (NO), terminating in decreased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and impairing cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation [7]. Several studies reported hyperglycemia-induced elevation of proinflammatory cytokines in serum of diabetic individuals [10, 11]. This elevation was abolished by supplementation of the antioxidants suggesting that hyperglycemia-induced cytokine production may be mediated by ROS [12]
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