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Effects of experimentally-induced diabetes on sperm parameters and chromatin quality in mice
Esmat Mangoli1, Ali Reza Talebi2, Morteza Anvari1
1Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Background:
Diabetes mellitus (DM), primary or idiopathic is a chronic disorder of the carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. DM may impact male reproductive function at several levels. It is shown that DM has detrimental effects on sperm parameters in human and experimental animals.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to observe the effects of diabetes on sperm parameters (viability, count, morphology and motility) and evaluation of sperm chromatin quality in mice.
Materials And Methods:
Totally twenty adult male Syrian mice were divided randomly into 2 groups (n=10). The animals of group A were considered as controls while group B mice were diabetic that received a single dose (200 mg/kg) streptozotocin (STZ) intra peritoneally. After 35 days, the cauda epididymis of each diabetic mouse was dissected and placed in culture medium for 30 min. The swim-out spermatozoa were analyzed for count, motility, morphology and viability. The sperm chromatin quality and DNA integrity, was evaluated with Aniline Blue (AB), Toluidine blue (TB), Acridine orange (AO) and Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining.
Results:
In sperm analysis, the diabetic mice had poor parameters in comparison with control animals (p=0.000). Regarding sperm chromatin quality, the results of TB and AO tests showed statically significant differences between two groups, but in AB and CMA3 staining, we didn't see any differences between them.
Conclusion:
The results showed that STZ-induced diabetes mellitus may influence the male fertility potential via affecting sperm parameters and DNA integrity in mice. However, according to our data, the diabetes doesn't have any detrimental effects on histone-protamines replacement during the testicular phase of sperm chromatin packaging.
Insights
Diabetes mellitus negatively impacts male fertility by reducing sperm count, motility, and viability in mice. While it affects sperm DNA integrity, it does not appear to alter histone-protamine replacement during packaging.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Endocrinology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism.
- DM is known to negatively impact male reproductive function, affecting sperm parameters in various species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on sperm parameters (viability, count, morphology, motility) in male mice.
- To evaluate the impact of diabetes on sperm chromatin quality and DNA integrity using specific staining techniques.
Main Methods:
- Twenty male Syrian mice were randomly assigned to control or diabetic groups (n=10).
- Diabetes was induced in group B using a single intraperitoneal dose of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg).
- Sperm parameters and chromatin quality were assessed after 35 days using microscopy and specialized stains (Aniline Blue, Toluidine blue, Acridine orange, Chromomycin A3).
Main Results:
- Diabetic mice exhibited significantly poorer sperm parameters (count, motility, morphology, viability) compared to control mice (p=0.000).
- Significant differences in sperm chromatin quality were observed between groups using Toluidine blue and Acridine orange staining.
- No significant differences were found between groups using Aniline Blue and Chromomycin A3 staining.
Conclusions:
- STZ-induced diabetes mellitus adversely affects male fertility potential by compromising sperm parameters and DNA integrity in mice.
- Diabetes does not appear to detrimentally affect histone-protamine replacement during the testicular phase of sperm chromatin packaging in this model.
