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Effect of melatonin on testicular damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats
1Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Institute of Health Science, Izmir, Turkey.
Background:
It is well known that diabetes mellitus is associated with impairment of testicular function. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the effect of melatonin on testicular damage in male rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.
Methods:
Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) control group, (2) melatonin-treated nondiabetic group, (3) diabetic group and (4) melatonin-treated diabetic group. Diabetes was induced by STZ injection. Melatonin was administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 10 mg/kg for 5 days. Testicular damage was examined by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining, and apoptosis was determined by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Potential disorders associated with seminiferous tubular sperm formation were evaluated using the Johnsen score.
Results:
Diabetic rats showed a reduction in seminiferous tubule diameter, increased thickening of the basement membrane in seminiferous tubules and degenerated germ cells. TUNEL-positive cells were significantly more numerous in diabetic rats than in control rats. Melatonin significantly attenuated the diabetes-induced morphological changes and germ cell apoptosis in the diabetic rat testis. The number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was significantly decreased in group 4 when compared to group 3.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that intraperitoneal administration of melatonin for 5 days is a potentially beneficial agent to reduce testicular damage in adult diabetic rats, probably by decreasing oxidative stress.
Insights
Melatonin treatment significantly reduced testicular damage and germ cell apoptosis in diabetic rats. This suggests melatonin may be beneficial for male reproductive health in diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Diabetology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is linked to impaired testicular function.
- Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats serves as a model for studying diabetes-related testicular damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of melatonin on testicular damage in STZ-induced diabetic male rats.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were divided into control, melatonin-treated non-diabetic, diabetic, and melatonin-treated diabetic groups.
- Diabetes was induced using STZ; melatonin was administered intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg for 5 days).
- Testicular damage was assessed via histology (H&E, PAS), apoptosis (TUNEL), and sperm formation (Johnsen score).
Main Results:
- Diabetic rats exhibited reduced seminiferous tubule diameter, thickened basement membranes, and germ cell degeneration.
- Apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells) and inflammation (polymorphonuclear leukocytes) were significantly higher in diabetic rats.
- Melatonin treatment attenuated these diabetes-induced morphological changes and reduced germ cell apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Melatonin administration shows potential as a therapeutic agent to mitigate testicular damage in diabetic rats.
- The protective mechanism may involve reducing oxidative stress and inflammation associated with diabetes.
