Investigating the therapeutic options for diabetes‐associated male infertility as illustrated in animal experimental models

Abstract

Diabetes is a rising global health concern and an increasingly common cause of male infertility. Although the definitive pathophysiological mechanisms underpinning the association between diabetes and infertility is unclear, there are several animal studies showing diabetes to be a detrimental factor on reproductive health through apoptosis, oxidative stress and impairment of steroidogenesis. Furthermore, as reflected in animal models, antidiabetic strategies and relevant treatments are beneficial in the management of infertile men with diabetes as the recovery of euglycemic status affects positively the spermatogenesis. However, the available data are still evolving and specific conclusion in human populations are not possible yet. In this review, we are discussing the current literature concerning the association of diabetes and male infertility, focusing on the therapeutic approach as illustrated in animals' models.

Garden Cress Seed Oil Abrogates Testicular Oxidative Injury and NF-kB-Mediated Inflammation in Diabetic Mice

“…Twenty seminiferous tubules from each sample were magnified at 400× to determine the testicular maturity and damage using the Johnsen's tubular biopsy score (JTBS) method [117]. Each seminiferous tubule was given a score between 1 and 10 to indicate its level of germinal epithelial maturity according to the following description: score (1), no cells appear in the tubular section; score (2), no germ cells exist; score (3), just the spermatogonia can be seen; score (4), limited primary spermatocytes; score (5), numerous primary spermatocytes but no spermatozoa or spermatids; score (6), only a few spermatids; score (7), a large number of early spermatids deprived of differentiation; score (8), a few differentiated spermatids; score (9), several differentiated spermatids; and finally, score (10), regular tubules with lots of sperms.…”

“…Multiple body organs are affected by micro-and/or macrovascular diabetic complications, resulting in their damage, dysfunction, and eventual failure [4,5]. Reproductive dysfunction is one of the adverse effects of diabetes in both humans and animal models [6][7][8][9]. Recently, it was reported that type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1DM and T2DM, respectively) adversely affected the sperm quality and histopathology of reproductive organs in T1DM and T2DM mice with a great extent of similarity.…”