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Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

DOI

10.55730/1300-0128.4315

Abstract

Testicular dysfunction, a severe secondary complication of diabetes, negatively affects reproductive health. Ghrelin is a peptide that plays a role in many metabolic events, such as stimulating growth hormones and regulating appetite, blood pressure, and reproduction. Metformin has antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties and is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the effects of ghrelin and metformin on testicular function in experimental diabetic rats given streptozotocin, placed on a high-fat diet, and that had their sperm parameters evaluated, testosterone hormone, caspase 3 and iNOS expression, and histopathological examinations were performed. In total, 38 Wistar albino male rats were randomized into 4 groups (a control group, diabetes group, diabetes + ghrelin group, and diabetes + metformin group) with different numbers. It was determined that spermatozoa concentration, motility, and testosterone levels were lower (p < 0.001), caspase 3 and iNOS expression levels (p < 0.05) were higher, and abnormal sperm rates were higher (p < 0.001) in the diabetic group compared to the other groups. Metformin and ghrelin administered to the diabetes group increased spermatozoa concentration, motility, and testosterone levels (p < 0.001) and decreased caspase 3 and iNOS expression levels, as well as abnormal sperm rates (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we propose that ghrelin and metformin can be used to protect reproductive health in testicular dysfunction caused by diabetes.

Keywords

Caspase 3, iNOS, ghrelin, metformin, sperm

First Page

469

Last Page

477

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