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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a degenerative disease that has deleterious effects on male reproductive function, possibly through an increase in oxidative stress and protection against this damage can be offered by antioxidant supplementation. This study investigated the effects of oral administration of Tetrapluera tetraptera saponins (TTS) on concentrations of lipid peroxide (as malondialdehyde; MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the testes of rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Six groups were used (7 animals each) and these animals were allocated to different groups: normal control group, diabetic group. The diabetic group was subdivided into five groups as follows: diabetic control (DC), metformin treated group, 10mg TTS treated group, 20mg TTS treated group and 40mg TTS treated group. The metformin and TTS were also administered for 12 consecutive weeks. The MDA and GSH levels in the harvested testes were determined with comparison made between groups. Although MDA concentration in the testes increased in diabetic control, the TTS administered significantly reduced the pro-oxidant levels (P<0.05) to normal levels.. However, in the testes and serum, the reduced glutathione significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the diabetic treated groups compared to the diabetic untreated group. The results indicated that increased lipid oxidation may compromise the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the experimental animals.
Diabetes mellitus is a degenerative disease that has deleterious effects on male reproductive function, possibly through an increase in oxidative stress and protection against this damage can be offered by antioxidant supplementation. This study investigated the effects of oral administration of Tetrapluera tetraptera saponins (TTS) on concentrations of lipid peroxide (as malondialdehyde; MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the testes of rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Six groups were used (7 animals each) and these animals were allocated to different groups: normal control group, diabetic group. The diabetic group was subdivided into five groups as follows: diabetic control (DC), metformin treated group, 10mg TTS treated group, 20mg TTS treated group and 40mg TTS treated group. The metformin and TTS were also administered for 12 consecutive weeks. The MDA and GSH levels in the harvested testes were determined with comparison made between groups. Although MDA concentration in the testes increased in diabetic control, the TTS administered significantly reduced the pro-oxidant levels (P<0.05) to normal levels.. However, in the testes and serum, the reduced glutathione significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the diabetic treated groups compared to the diabetic untreated group. The results indicated that increased lipid oxidation may compromise the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the experimental animals.
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