Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder, is characterized by elevated plasma glucose levels, known as hyperglycemia. Diabetes mellitus is caused by a lack of sufficient insulin secretion during periods of high demand and/or defective cellular insulin signaling. Abnormally high levels of glucose inside the cells cause oxidative stress and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Reactive oxygen species negatively affect the reproductive capacity in otherwise fertile men, causing infertility. Testosterone-producing interstitial Leydig cells are particularly impacted by hyperglycemia, as these cells are present outside the blood-testis barrier and exposed to circulating high levels of glucose. Testosterone initiates and maintains the process of spermatogenesis in collaboration with Sertoli cells. In the current study, we aimed to assess the impact of hyperglycemia on testicular endocrinology and spermatogenesis in a hyperglycemic adult male rodent model supplemented with or without zinc. Elemental zinc has been shown to have strong antioxidant ability. Zinc has been shown to balance testosterone levels, thereby maintaining male fertility. The first group of animals (n=12, adult male albino Wistar rats) was pretreated with streptozotocin (STZ). The second group of animals (n=12) was supplemented with zinc before the STZ pretreatment. Body weight and blood glucose levels were monitored daily. The first group was sacrificed on the 5th day, 10th day, and 15th day post-STZ treatment. Zinc-supplemented animals were sacrificed on specific days, i.e. 20th, 25th, and 30th. 4 animals were sacrificed on specific days from both groups. Blood was collected along with the testis and pancreas. Tissues were immediately fixed in formalin, while blood was centrifuged and plasma was separated and stored at -20°C. Plasma levels of insulin, testosterone, and inhibin B were assessed through ELISA. Total oxidant status (TOS) and Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the plasma were measured by colorimetric assay. Tissue samples were processed for histology, and sections were stained with H&E. The first group depicts a significant decrease in the insulin, testosterone, and TAC levels, while an increase in inhibin and TOS levels on the 15th day postSTZ. Interestingly, testicular histology shows normal and active seminiferous epithelium with elongating spermatids present in the tubule lumen on 5th, 10th and 15th day post-STZ. In the second zinc pretreated group, the hormonal analysis reveals that short-term hyperglycemia could not impact the testicular endocrinology in terms of testosterone and inhibin levels. The testicular histology also supported the endocrine profile by exhibiting active spermatogenesis and a seminiferous tubule lumen containing elongating sperms. The current study implicates that hyperglycemic conditions severely impact the testicular endocrinology of adult male Wistar rats, while zinc supplementation shields the negative impact of hyperglycemia on testicular steroidogenesis. Although the active spermatogenesis was observed in the first group on the 15th day, with reduced testosterone levels, we speculate that the impact of low testosterone will be unnoticeable in terms of spermatogenesis in the 15-day window.
Page(s):
213-214
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: 4th International Conference of Sciences “Revamped Scientific Outlook of 21st Century, 2025” , November 12,2025, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2025
Keywords:
hyperglycemia
,
Zinc
,
streptozotocin
,
testosterone
,
total oxidant status
,
Diabetes mellitus
,
Diabetes mellitus