Abstract
Objective:This study was designed to investigate the Ocimum gratissimum (OG) effects on sperm quality and testicular cytoarchitecture in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Method:Twenty male Wistar rats (150-200 g) were assigned into 4 groups (n=5) as A (control), B (OG), C (Dia) and D (Dia+OG). Groups A and B were normal animals receiving distilled water or OG (400 mg/kg), respectively while diabetes was induced by alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg) in groups C and D, followed by the administration of distilled water or OG, respectively for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained for fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fructosamine determination while, epididymis and testes were obtained for sperm quality assessment using computer-assisted sperm analyzer and testicular histomorphometry, respectively. Seminiferous tubule diameter and interstitial space distance were quantified in hematoxylin and eosin stained slides. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and student t-test at α0.05.Results:Fructosamine and FBG were reduced in Dia+OG (80.11±3.80µmol/L and 132.0±8.41mg/dl, respectively) compared with Dia (139.66±4.29µmol/L and 285.6±26.69mg/dl, respectively). Sperm count was unchanged in Dia, but decreased in OG and Dia+OG; abnormal sperm cells increased in OG, Dia and Dia+OG. Mild vacuolation in the seminiferous tubule, disorganized germinal cells layer, arrested sperm maturation with empty spermatozoa in lumen, decreased seminiferous tubule diameter and increased interstitial space were found in the testes of OG, Dia and Dia+OG compared with control.Conclusion:Diabetes induces sperm impairments and distortions in testicular cytoarchitecture, which were aggravated by OG leaf extract in male Wistar rats.
Highlights
Sexual dysfunctions ranging from erectile and testicular dysfunctions, reduced libido, retrograde ejaculation (Dunsmuir & Holmes, 1996), disrupted endocrine control of spermatogenesis (Baccetti et al, 2002), impaired sperm DNA integrity (Agbaje et al, 2007), reduced sperm count and motility (Barták, 1979; Bhattacharya et al, 2014) and low serum testosterone (Verma et al, 2013) are complications of prolonged diabetes mellitus in men
Fructosamine and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were reduced in Diabetic Untreated (Dia)+Ocimum gratissimum (OG) (80.11±3.80μmol/L and 132.0±8.41mg/dl, respectively) compared with Dia (139.66±4.29μmol/L and 285.6±26.69mg/dl, respectively)
Mild vacuolation in the seminiferous tubule, disorganized germinal cells layer, arrested sperm maturation with empty spermatozoa in lumen, decreased seminiferous tubule diameter and increased interstitial space were found in the testes of OG, Dia and Dia+OG compared with control
Summary
Fructosamine and FBG were reduced in Dia+OG (80.11±3.80μmol/L and 132.0±8.41mg/dl, respectively) compared with Dia (139.66±4.29μmol/L and 285.6±26.69mg/dl, respectively). Sperm count was unchanged in Dia, but decreased in OG and Dia+OG; abnormal sperm cells increased in OG, Dia and Dia+OG. Mild vacuolation in the seminiferous tubule, disorganized germinal cells layer, arrested sperm maturation with empty spermatozoa in lumen, decreased seminiferous tubule diameter and increased interstitial space were found in the testes of OG, Dia and Dia+OG compared with control
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