Effects of Betulinic Acid on the Male Reproductive System of a Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetic Mouse Model
Purpose: The present study was conducted to evaluate the favorable or harmful effects of betulinic acid (BA) on a diabetic reproductive system. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 60 male Naval Medical Research Institute mice (20∼25 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups: control,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology
2016-12-01
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| Series: | The World Journal of Men's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.wjmh.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/2074WJMH/wjmh-34-209.pdf |
| Summary: | Purpose: The present study was conducted to evaluate the favorable or harmful effects of betulinic acid (BA) on a diabetic
reproductive system.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 60 male Naval Medical Research Institute mice (20∼25 g) were randomly
divided into 6 groups: control, diabetes, diabetes+BA (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg), and diabetes+ metformin (200 mg/kg). A diabetic
model was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg) injection intraperitoneally 15 minutes after an intraperitoneal
administration of nicotinamide (NA) (120 mg/kg). BA and metformin were gavaged for 2 weeks after confirmed
diabetes induction in the treatment groups. One day after the last treatment, plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH), and testosterone levels were evaluated. The cauda epididymis and testis were removed to analyze the sperm
count and testis histopathology.
Results: LH levels increased in diabetic (p＜0.001) and diabetic BA-treated mice (p=0.009). Plasma levels of testosterone (p＜
0.001) and sperm count (p=0.04) decreased in these groups when compared to the control group. Furthermore, administration
of 10 mg/kg (p=0.001), 20 mg/kg (p=0.004), or 40 mg/kg (p＜0.001) of BA led to a greater reduction in plasma testosterone levels
compared to the diabetes group. Seminiferous tubule vacuole numbers increased in diabetic and diabetic BA-treated mice, but
testis morphology and FSH level assessment revealed no significant differences between the groups.
Conclusions: STZ-NA can induce diabetic alterations in the male reproductive system and the administration of BA in diabetic
treated mice resulted in a worse outcome. |
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| ISSN: | 2287-4208 2287-4690 |