ABSTRACT
Objective@#The differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM) in terms of their adverse effects on male reproductive parameters have never been elucidated. This study aimed to distinguish between the effects of the DM types in mice treated with multiple low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) to mimic human T1DM and coadministered a high-fat diet (HFD) to mimic human T2DM. @*Methods@#The T1DM mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) for 5 days. The T2DM mice received an HFD for 14 days prior to STZ injection (85 mg/kg body weight), followed by continuous feeding of an HFD. Male reproductive parameters were evaluated. @*Results@#The reproductive organs of the DM mice weighed significantly less than those of controls, and the seminal vesicles plus prostates of the T1DM mice weighed less than those of the T2DM mice. Increased sperm abnormalities and incomplete DNA packaging were observed in the DM groups. Sperm concentration and the proportion of normal sperm were significantly lower in the T1DM group. The seminiferous histopathology of DM mice was classified into seven types. The penises of the DM mice were smaller than those of the controls; however, tunica albuginea thickness and the amount of penile collagen fibers were increased in these mice. Round germ cells were abundant in the epididymal lumens of the mice with DM. @*Conclusion@#T1DM adversely affected reproductive parameters to a greater extent than T2DM.
ABSTRACT
Background: The streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic model is widely used to evaluate the adverse effects of diabetes mellitus [DM] on spermatogenesis and testicular steroidogenesis. However, the actual mechanism of sub/infertility in DM males needs to be elucidated
Objective: To conduct a detailed examination of the testicular histopathology, sperm acrosome reaction [AR] status, and tyrosine-phosphorylated protein expression in the testis of male mice induced with STZ
Materials and Methods: Ten ICR mice were divided into two groups [n=5/each]: control and diabetes induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin [MLD-STZ]. The control mice were intraperitoneally injected with citrate buffer, whereas MLD-STZ mice were injected with STZ at 40 mg/kg body weight for five consecutive days. At the end of the experiment [day 40], reproductive parameters, AR status, and the histopathology of the testis and epididymis were evaluated. The expression of testicular tyrosine phosphorylated proteins was examined
Results: Blood glucose levels, AR percentages, and sperm abnormality of STZ group were significantly higher [p=0.003, 0.001, 0.000], while sperm concentration was significantly lower [p=0.001] compared to control. Histopathology of the seminiferous tubule was classified into 7 types. Additionally, abundant round cells were found in the epididymal lumen of the MLD-STZ mice. Moreover, the intensities of testicular phosphorylated proteins [170, 70, 36, 30, and 25 kDas] were markedly higher and a 120 kDa protein band was noticeably lower in the MLD-STZ mice
Conclusion: MLD-STZ-induced DM causes many testicular histopathologies, precocious sperm AR, and increased expression of testicular phosphorylated proteins. These findings may clarify some mechanisms of sub/infertility in DM males
ABSTRACT
Background: Stress is a cause of male infertility. Although sex hormones and sperm quality have been shown to be low in stress, sperm physiology and testicular functional proteins, such as phosphotyrosine proteins, have not been documented
Objective: To investigate the acrosome status and alterations of testicular proteins involved in spermatogenesis and testosterone synthesis in chronic stress in rats
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, male rats were divided into 2 groups [control and chronic stress [CS], n=7]. CS rats were immobilized [4 hr/day] for 42 consecutive days. The blood glucose level [BGL], corticosterone, testosterone, acrosome status, and histopathology were examined. The expressions of testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory [StAR], cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage [CYP11A1], and phosphorylated proteins were analyzed
Results: Results showed that BGL [71.25 +/- 2.22 vs. 95.60 +/- 3.36 mg/dl], corticosterone level [24.33 +/- 4.23 vs. 36.9 +/- 2.01 ng/ml], acrosome reacted sperm [3.25 +/- 1.55 vs. 17.71 +/- 5.03%], and sperm head abnormality [3.29 +/- 0.71 vs. 6.21 +/- 1.18%] were significantly higher in CS group in comparison with control. In contrast, seminal vesicle [0.41 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.07 g/100g], testosterone level [3.37 +/- 0.79 vs. 0.61 +/- 0.29 ng/ml], and sperm concentration [115.33 +/- 7.70 vs. 79.13 +/- 3.65×106 cells/ml] of CS were significantly lower [p<0.05] than controls. Some atrophic seminiferous tubules and low sperm mass were apparent in CS rats. The expression of CYP11A1 except StAR protein was markedly decreased in CS rats. In contrast, a 55 kDa phosphorylated protein was higher in CS testes
Conclusion: CS decreased the expression of CYP11A, resulting in decreased testosterone, and increased acrosome-reacted sperm, assumed to be the result of an increase of 55 kDa phosphorylated protein