Long term evaluation of morphometric and ultrastructural changes of testes of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

PURPOSE:To evaluate in a long term the morphometric and ultrastructural changes in seminiferous tubules (ST) of normal and diabetic rats, and to correlate any changes with animal age and diabetes duration. METHODS:Sixty male Wistar rats, three months-old, were randomly divided into two groups: 30 non-diabetic controls (N) and 30 alloxan untreated diabetic (D). After one, six and 12 months of follow-up or diabetes induction rats were sacrificed and the testes examined. Morphometric measures of the ST were performed by digital imaging analysis. ST ultrastructure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS:Sustained hyperglycemic state was observed in all diabetic rats throughout the study. Serum testosterone was also significantly decreased in these animals. The diameter, total area, epithelium area and epithelium thickness of ST were lower and tubular density was higher in diabetic animals. Diabetic rats also showed ultrastructural changes compromising the whole testis including germ-, Sertoli-, and Leydig cells, and also the mithocondria and cellular nuclei. Most frequent of these consisted of vacuolization and/ or accumulation of lipid droplets and electron dense dark material in cell cytoplasm and/or in membranes, cellular degeneration, and apoptosis. Non-diabetic control rats also showed testicular lesions that resemble to the diabetic lesions, although much less severe and with later onset in life of these animals. CONCLUSION:Histopathological changes observed in testes of normal and diabetic rats are closely related to the animal age and/ or duration of the hyperglycemic state, being progressively more severe in animals sacrificed belatedly. These changes may play an important role in male infertility observed in diabetic subjects.

Effects of Betulinic Acid on the Male Reproductive System of a Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetic Mouse Model

“…Furthermore, one of the main functions of the Sertoli cell is to produce substances for germ cell survival and provide an essential environment for spermatogenesis. Induction of diabetes is associated with an increase in the number and size of vacuoles in Sertoli cell cytoplasm in the testicular tissue and this vacuolization may alter spermatogenesis with lower spermatozoa numbers [29]. Therefore, consistent with previous studies, the present histopathological results suggest vacuolization in the seminiferous tubule epithelium of diabetic BA-treated mice with impaired Sertoli cell function and reduced sperm count.…”

Amelioration of diabetes-induced testicular and sperm damage in rats by cerium oxide nanoparticle treatment

“…In the same way, animal models of STZ‐induced diabetes have shown a reduction in fertility and number and function of Leydig cells in male rats (Kianifard, Sadrkhanlou, & Hasanzadeh, ; Trindade, Simoes, Silva, Macedo, & Spadella, ).…”

Pancreas Transplantation Delays the Progression of Morphological, Morphometric and Ultrastructural Changes in Testes of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…A previous study performed in our laboratory demonstrated that testes of alloxan (ALX)-induced diabetic rats show morphological, morphometric, and ultrastructural changes, whose severity is directly related to the duration of diabetes [12]. It also showed that animal age plays an important role in the onset and progression of degenerative lesions of the testes because NC rats show testicular changes that resemble diabetic lesions, although these changes are much less severe and have a later onset in animal life.…”

“…Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated implications of DM for the endocrine control of spermatogenesis, for spermat-ogenesis itself and for erectile function and ejaculation [8][9][10][11]. Experimental studies performed in rats in our laboratory and at other centers have revealed testicular lesions that affect practically all structures of the seminiferous tubules (ST), including the germ, Sertoli, and Leydig cells [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Deleterious effects of DM on sexual behavior, sperm quantity and quality, and the neuroendocrine-male reproductive tract axis have also been noted [21][22][23].…”