Maternal hyperglycemia at different stages of gestation and its effects on male reproductive functions in rats

Abstract

The critical period during which maternal hyperglycemia predisposes offspring to develop reproductive disorders in adult life is not known. The relationship between maternal hyperglycemia at different stages and reproductive functions of male offspring was investigated. A single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (90 mg/kg body weight) was administered at gestation days (GD) 1, 8 and 15. Animals were subsequently given 10% glucose solution daily as drinking water until parturition. All male pups were sacrificed on the 63rd day of postnatal life. Birth weight, anogenital distance index (AGDi), testes descent day, preputial separation day, sperm profile, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels and the histology of the testis were assessed. Data significance test was based on 95% confidence interval. GD1 pups showed a significant increase in mean birth weight, whereas GD8 pups and GD15 pups had significantly reduced birth weight as compared with control. AGDi was significantly increased in GD8 and GD15 pups. Testes descent and preputial separation in all the experimental groups were significantly earlier. There was a significant reduction in sperm count and viability in GD8 offspring. Sperm motility was reduced in all test groups. Testosterone level was reduced in all test groups. Histology of the testis showed varying degrees of pathologies. It was deduced from this study that maternal hyperglycemia caused alterations in reproductive functions in male offspring of Wistar rats irrespective of the period of gestation involved, although GD8 pups were most severely affected.

Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Potentials of Ethanolic Stem Bark Extract of Anacardium occidentale in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…In the current study, diabetes-induced lipid peroxidation was assessed by determining the hepatic and kidney malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and these were found to be significantly elevated in the diabetic rats. Our result is similar to several studies that have previously shown that biomarkers of oxidative damage including MDA were elevated in the liver and kidney of chemical-induced diabetic rats (Palmer et al, 1998;Van Dam et al, 2001;Nain et al, 2012;Akindele et al, 2015). We also observed that administration of A. occidentale stem bark extract at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of body weight, decreases MDA level in the liver and kidney of the diabetic rats in a manner comparable to that of the antidiabetic drug, metformin.…”

“…However, the efficiency of these conventional antidiabetic agents is not completely guaranteed as indicated by increase in morbidity and mortality rate in diabetic patients (Asrafuzzaman et al, 2017). Furthermore, the commonly used antidiabetic agents cause various side effects, such as weight gain, hypoglycemia, fluid retention, skin rash or itching, tiredness or dizziness, diarrhea, liver disease and heart failure (Akindele et al, 2015;Xu et al, 2018), thus limiting their use. These drawbacks, and the fact that about 80% of people affected by diabetes lives in low-and middle-income countries, where accessibility to adequate medical care may not be available, have made the development of new antidiabetic agents which can control hyperglycemia with fewer side effects very essential.…”

First-trimester determination of fetal gender by ultrasound: measurement of the ano-genital distance

“…In the rat model, various substances have been administered to pregnant females to evaluate the impact on reproductive organ development in the offspring. [23,24,25]. When the pregnant female rat received flutamide (androgen receptor antagonist) or dibutylphthalate [24,25] the AGD at birth was shorter in male offspring.…”

Long-term outcomes and potential mechanisms of offspring exposed to intrauterine hyperglycemia

“…No difference in fasting insulin profile was observed between the offspring of GDM (O-GDM) and control mothers in another clinical trial either ( 23 ). Due to anatomic position and ethical restrictions, scientists mimic intrauterine hyperglycemia by administration of streptozotocin ( 24 , 115 ) or alloxan ( 111 , 118 ) to specifically destroy the islet or feeding high fat high sucrose (HFHS) diet ( 112 , 116 ) to induce PGDM or GDM in an animal model. Ding, et al discovered that adult offspring of maternal diabetes presented impaired glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in mice ( 24 ).…”

“…Thus, the number of Leydig cells decreased and the anogenital distance was shortened ( 115 ). However, in another animal model, scientists suggested that the anogenital distance index was significantly increased, testes descent and preputial separation were started earlier when exposed to maternal hyperglycemia ( 118 ).…”