Beneficial effects of quercetin on sperm parameters in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic male rats

Abstract

Quercetin (QR) is a strong antioxidant and has been shown to reduce oxidative stress in the long-term treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in animal models. Antioxidants have significant effects on spermatogenesis, sperm biology and oxidative stress, and changes in antioxidant capacity are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diabetes mellitus. The present study aims to examine the influence of QR on spermatogenesis in STZ-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats. Animals (n = 50) were allocated into five groups: Group 1: Control rats given 0.5 ml of 20% glycerol in 0.9% normal saline. Group 2: Control rats given buffer (pH4.0).Group 3: diabetic controls. Group 4: rats given QR 15 mg/kg/day (i.p.). Group 5: STZ + QR rats. Animals were kept in standard conditions. At the end of the experiment (28th day), blood samples were taken for determination of testosterone, total antioxidant capacity, and levels of malondialdehyde and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. All rats were euthanized, testes were dissected out and spermatozoa were collected from the epididymis for analysis. Sperm numbers, percentages of sperm viability and motility, and total serum testosterone increased significantly in QR-treated diabetic rats (P < 0.05) compared with control groups. In histopathology, degeneration and inflammation in testes cells associated with diabetes were improved and testes weights in the QR-treated diabetic group decreased significantly in comparison with controls (P < 0.05). We conclude that QR has significant beneficial effects on the sperm viability, motility, and serum total testosterone and could be effective for maintaining healthy sperm parameters and male reproductive function in diabetic rats.

Anti–oxidative role of quercetin derived from Allium cepa on aldehyde oxidase (OX–LDL) and hepatocytes apoptosis in streptozotocin–induced diabetic rat

“…Base on ancient Persians traditional books Use of herbal medicine has positive effect on treatment of different diseases especially on diabetes mellitus. Onion contains A, B, C vitamins, flavonoids and selenium which their antioxidant role has been proved [8,9] . Make use of onion and Quercetin in diabetic patient treatment has been experimented [11] .…”

“…Diabetes was induced by a single intra peritoneal (I.P) injection of streptozotocin (STZ, Sigma-U.S.A.) in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.0) at a dose of 55 mg/kg body weight. Quercetin (QR) injections were continued to the end of the study (for 4 weeks) [9] .…”

“…The assay is based on the incubation of 2, 2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate) (ABTS) with a peroxidase (methmyoglobin) and hydrogen peroxide to produce the radical cation ABTS + , which has a relatively stable blue-green color, measured at 600 nm. The suppression of the color is compared with that of the Trolox, which is widely used as a traditional standard for TAC measurement assays, and the assay results are expressed as trolox equivalent (mmol/L) [9] . (TBA) method and expressed as mmol MDA formed/mL.…”

“…Plasma MDA concentrations were determined with spectrophotometer. A calibration curve was prepared by using 1,1',3,3'-tetramethoxypropane as the standard [9] .…”

“…Many herbal such as: Barberry, Estragon, Rhus coriaria, Cinnamomum zelanicum, Hypericum perforatum and onion known anti diabetic effects and use to patient treatment. Quercetin is a well-known flavonoid and a strong antioxidant and long-term treatment of STZ-diabetic animals and it has been shown to reduce oxidative stress [8,9] . We plant to study the role of Quercetin in streptozotocininduced diabetes in rats.…”