INSL3 Preserves Male Reproductive Function Under Inflammatory and Glucocorticoid Stress in Rats
Gulfidan Coskun1, Tugce Sapmaz2, Dilek Saker2
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. gcoskun@cu.edu.tr.
Reproductive Sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis and prednisolone impair male reproductive function. Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) combined with prednisolone partially improved testicular structure and function in arthritic rats.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Inflammation Research
- Toxicology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis and its glucocorticoid treatments can negatively impact male reproductive health.
- Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a key hormone for Leydig cell function and may offer protective effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of prednisolone and INSL3 on testicular structure and function in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis.
- To evaluate the combined impact of INSL3 and prednisolone on inflammatory and steroidogenic pathways in the testes.
Main Methods:
- Adult male rats with induced arthritis were treated with prednisolone, INSL3, or both.
- Testicular assessments included histology, morphometry, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructure, testosterone levels, and sperm analysis.
Main Results:
- Arthritis induced testicular damage, including reduced weight, impaired sperm parameters, and altered hormone levels.
- Prednisolone and INSL3 alone showed partial improvements, while combined treatment significantly improved inflammatory markers, testicular morphology, steroidogenesis, and sperm parameters.
Conclusions:
- Combined INSL3 and prednisolone treatment offers significant benefits in mitigating testicular damage caused by inflammation and glucocorticoid stress.
- INSL3 may play a role in protecting testicular function during inflammatory conditions and corticosteroid therapy.
