Hyperglycemia-induced alteration in reproductive profile and its amelioration by the polyherbal formulation MTEC (modified) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino rats

Abstract

This study investigated oxidative stress-mediated alterations in the reproductive profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino rats and their amelioration by the polyherbal formulation MTEC (modified), constituted with n-hexane fractions of hydromethanol extracts of Musa paradisiaca roots, Tamarindus indica seeds, Eugenia jambolana seeds, and Coccinia indica leaves in a specific ratio. We noted a change in serum insulin levels and a modulation in carbohydrate metabolic parameters, i.e. increased fasting blood glucose level, elevated glucose-6-phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, along with a diminution of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in liver, skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle, which confirmed the streptozotocin-induced diabetic state. Glycogen levels were decreased in the liver and skeletal tissues. A diminution in reproductive function in the diabetic state was reflected here by significant low values in reproductive organo-somatic indices, sperm count, and motility, along with serum testosterone, but high levels of testicular cholesterol and seminal vesicular fructose. A diminution in activity of the principal antioxidative enzymes along with increased levels of free radical products in the primary and accessory sex organs, as well as in sperm pellets, also confirmed the development of oxidative stress in the male reproductive organs. An increased expression of testicular proapoptotic Bax gene in diabetes also supports the elevation of testicular germ cell apoptosis in the diabetic state. Oral administration of the herbal drug MTEC (modified) at a dose of 10 mg/0.5 mL 2% Tween 80 per 100 g body weight twice daily to the diabetic rats for 28 days significantly corrected the Biomarkers and Genomic Medicine (2013) 5, 54e66 serum insulin level and carbohydrate metabolic parameters. MTEC (modified) also corrected reproductive activities by increasing organo-somatic indices, sperm count, motility, levels of serum testosterone, testicular cholesterol, and seminal vesicular fructose toward their respective control values. Oxidative stress-mediated testicular deformities in diabetes were rectified by treatment with MTEC (modified), as shown here by the increasing activities of antioxidative enzymes and decreasing levels of lipid peroxidative end-products, along with a downregulated pattern of proapoptotic Bax-a protein in testicular tissue, without any development of toxicity. Thus, MTEC (modified) has promising hyperglycemic, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic activities for curing diabetes-induced testicular disorders in a streptozotocin-treated diabetic rat model.

Phytotherapy in reducing glycemic index and testicular oxidative stress resulting from induced diabetes: a review

“…However, Mallick et al (2007), Chatterjee et al (2012Chatterjee et al ( , 2013, Hajizadeh et al (2014) and Shah and Khan (2014) reported a recovery compared to untreated diabetic animals. According to Chatterjee et al (2013), the extract used for treatment of diabetic animals increased the production of the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) which prevents the infiltration of lymphocytes in pancreatic islet and protects β-cells while providing a safe environment for cellular regeneration.…”

“…In spite of the absence of testicular weight in such studies, the reduction of GSI, or rather, the percentage of body weight allocated in the gonads, indicated a decrease in testis size. Specifically in Chatterjee et al (2013), in which body weight of experimental groups had no significant difference, the reduction of such index features drastic testicular damage. Wankeu-Nya et al (2013) also observed a testicular atrophy in diabetes-induced animals, partially recovered by treatment.…”

“…Chatterjee et al (2013) and Ghosh et al (2014) reported that decrease in GSI and, consequently, in testis weight, is the result of diabetic low testosterone and insulin levels.…”

“…Giribabu et al (2014) and Shah and Khan (2014) observed increased levels of these oxidants respectively in sperm and testicular evaluation of untreated diabetic animals. This occurs due to auto-oxidation of glucose and non-enzymatic glycation during hyperglycemia, with the subsequent increase in the production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical (Chatterjee et al, 2013). Giribabu et al (2014) noted a reduction in the levels of these oxidative stress indicators in the sperm of diabetic rats and underscored the extract's capacity to eliminate free radicals.…”

“…There is a reduction in the levels of critical enzymes for antioxidant protection under these conditions, leading to increased formation of reactive oxygen species and, consequently, to tissue damage, such as lipid peroxidation and increased rate of apoptosis (Maritim et al, 2003;Ghosh, et al, 2014). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase are the principal enzymes that protect the male reproduction organs (Chatterjee et al, 2013). All studies that assessed the concentration of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione in diabetic animals, reported decrease in their levels.…”