The effect of streptozotocin induced diabetes and sabeluzole (SBZ) on sexual function was evaluated in male rats. SBZ is a benzothiazole derivative with antihypoxic and antiischaemic activities. Rats were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, 60 mg./kg. body weight, and either left untreated or treated with 1.0 mg./kg. of SBZ. Two groups of control rats treated with or without SBZ were also evaluated. Seven weeks after the induction of diabetes, all rats were studied in vivo for mating behavior. Animals were sacrificed one week later, and detrusor strip response in vitro was evaluated. The reproductive organ weight, sperm content and motility as well as in vitro testosterone secretion and serum levels of LH and testosterone were determined. Diabetes induced significant reduction in mating behavior. The diabetic rats that received SBZ showed a significant improvement in mating behavior. The percentage of animals that exhibited ejaculation was 0% in the diabetic group compared to 70% in the controls and 38% in diabetic plus SBZ group. The strips of the detrusor muscle of the diabetic group showed a marked hypersensitivity to bethanechol HCL. In the diabetic plus SBZ group, the strips of the detrusor muscle showed a response similar to that of the control. The diabetic rats had significantly diminished reproductive organ weight, testicular sperm content, epididymal sperm content and sperm motility relative to the control. In addition, marked decrease in the serum level of testosterone and in vitro testosterone secretion was observed in diabetic rats. In the diabetic plus SBZ group, the reproductive organ weight, sperm content and motility as well as serum testosterone and in vitro testosterone secretion showed an improvement compared to diabetic rats. In summary, our data suggest that sex behavior and reproductive tract functions are markedly affected by streptozotocin induced diabetes. Sabeluzole treatment could be beneficial in reducing the deleterious effect of diabetes on sexual functions.

The objectives of this study are to study the diagnostic value of color duplex ultrasonography (CDU) compared with the clinical results and temporal artery biopsy (TAB) in patients with suspected temporal arteritis (TA) and evaluate the prognostic value of CDU in follow-up of patients of sure diagnosis of TA under treatment in correlation to clinical response. The study included 32 consecutive patients of clinically suspected TA, and 30 age- and gender-matched control subjects. Baseline clinical characteristics and bilateral CDU of temporal arteries were performed to all subjects. CDU aimed to assess presence of a dark halo around the arterial lumen (a halo sign) or presence of stenoses and occlusions of temporal arteries. Unilateral TAB was performed then in all patients but not in control subjects. Subsequent CDU examinations were performed at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after onset of treatment in patients with abnormal CDU. A halo sign at baseline CDU was evident in 13 TA patients (81%) and in 2 non-TA patients (12%) but none in control subjects. The presence of a halo sign in total yielded 81% sensitivity and 88% specificity whereas the presence of bilateral halo sign yielded 37% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Subsequent CDU examinations of TA patients showed disappearance of a halo sign in nine patients at 2 weeks and in four patients at 4 weeks with a mean of disappearance of 21 days after initiation of treatment. CDU is non-invasive, easy, and inexpensive method for diagnosis of TA. It is of higher sensitivity and specificity. It can be used in combination with clinical and laboratory tools for diagnosis of TA. It can effectively predict which patient will need TAB. In patients with bilateral halo sign, TAB is not necessary.

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