Maha Abdelmonem, Shimaa O. Ali, Asmaa K. Al-Mokaddem, Heba R. Ghaiad
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The prevalence of testicular dysfunction is increasing as it is a common diabetes mellites (DM) complication. The objective of this study is to explore the potential protective effect of sulbutiamine against testicular hypofunction associated with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DM in rats. Sulbutiamine was administered orally (60 mg/kg) to male Wistar rats for 8 weeks starting 72 h after a single injection of STZ (45 mg/kg, i.p.). Blood glucose level (BGL), serum testosterone level, sperm number, and motility were determined. Testicular tissue was examined histopathologically, and the Johnson score was evaluated. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein kinase C (PKC), nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were measured. Apoptosis was evaluated by immunohistochemical determination of B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X-protein (Bax), and caspase-3. Sulbutiamine administration managed to reduce BGL and boost testicular function as manifested by increased testicular weight, testosterone level, sperm number, and motility compared to the STZ group. Additionally, histopathological examination revealed an improved histological picture and Johnson score of testicular tissue after sulbutiamine treatment. Sulbutiamine administration reduced testicular PKC, MDA, and PCNA levels and increased Nrf2 compared to the untreated group. Moreover, sulbutiamine treatment suppressed apoptosis triggered by STZ as evidenced by elevated Bcl-2, decreased Bax and reduced caspase-3. The present work revealed for the first time a promising protective role of sulbutiamine against STZ-induced testicular dysfunction which may add to the clinical utility of sulbutiamine. The underlying mechanisms involve reducing BGL and PKC, activating Nrf2 and inhibiting apoptosis.
期刊介绍:
BioFactors, a journal of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, is devoted to the rapid publication of highly significant original research articles and reviews in experimental biology in health and disease.
The word “biofactors” refers to the many compounds that regulate biological functions. Biological factors comprise many molecules produced or modified by living organisms, and present in many essential systems like the blood, the nervous or immunological systems. A non-exhaustive list of biological factors includes neurotransmitters, cytokines, chemokines, hormones, coagulation factors, transcription factors, signaling molecules, receptor ligands and many more. In the group of biofactors we can accommodate several classical molecules not synthetized in the body such as vitamins, micronutrients or essential trace elements.
In keeping with this unified view of biochemistry, BioFactors publishes research dealing with the identification of new substances and the elucidation of their functions at the biophysical, biochemical, cellular and human level as well as studies revealing novel functions of already known biofactors. The journal encourages the submission of studies that use biochemistry, biophysics, cell and molecular biology and/or cell signaling approaches.