Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity
The prevalence of diabetic patients who abuse alcohol while on combination antiretroviral drug therapy (cART) therapy is rising in society. Little is known about the impact of this scenario on the testes and male reproductive viability, and therefore, these factors were evaluated. Thirty 10-week-old...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/5096 |
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| author | Elna Owembabazi Pilani Nkomozepi Ejikeme F. Mbajiorgu |
| author_facet | Elna Owembabazi Pilani Nkomozepi Ejikeme F. Mbajiorgu |
| author_sort | Elna Owembabazi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The prevalence of diabetic patients who abuse alcohol while on combination antiretroviral drug therapy (cART) therapy is rising in society. Little is known about the impact of this scenario on the testes and male reproductive viability, and therefore, these factors were evaluated. Thirty 10-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were distributed into five groups of six rats each: control, diabetic only (DM), diabetic treated with alcohol (DM+A), diabetic treated with Atripla, fixed-dose cART (DM+cART), and diabetic treated with both alcohol and cART (DM+A+cART). After 90 days of treatment, rats were terminated, and blood and testes were harvested for immunoassay, histological, and immunohistochemistry analyses. Testicular perturbations of varying severity were recorded in all treated groups for most of the parameters. The DM+A treated group showed the most severe perturbations, followed sequentially by the treated groups DM+A+cART, DM, and DM+cART. Alterations in the testes and seminiferous tubule morphometry as well as the spermatogenic, Sertoli, and Leydig cells were found in all treated groups. Further, a significant decrease in Johnsen’s testicular scores, the appearance of seminiferous tubule lesions, changes in the basement membrane and capsule thickness, and a reduction in the testis connective tissue fibers were demonstrated in the treated groups. Additionally, reproductive hormone levels were altered, and the number and staining intensity of Sertoli and Leydig cells expressing androgen receptors reduced significantly in all treated animals. The study results reveal that the consumption of alcohol and/or the use of cART in diabetic individuals induces a derangement in circulating reproductive hormone levels and in the testicular structure and function, which consequently leads to a decline in the male reproductive capacity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:16:25Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:16:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-e507cb1d08c741debf682a689b04b9d72023-11-17T18:13:36ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-04-01138509610.3390/app13085096Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive CapacityElna Owembabazi0Pilani Nkomozepi1Ejikeme F. Mbajiorgu2School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South AfricaDepartment of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South AfricaSchool of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South AfricaThe prevalence of diabetic patients who abuse alcohol while on combination antiretroviral drug therapy (cART) therapy is rising in society. Little is known about the impact of this scenario on the testes and male reproductive viability, and therefore, these factors were evaluated. Thirty 10-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were distributed into five groups of six rats each: control, diabetic only (DM), diabetic treated with alcohol (DM+A), diabetic treated with Atripla, fixed-dose cART (DM+cART), and diabetic treated with both alcohol and cART (DM+A+cART). After 90 days of treatment, rats were terminated, and blood and testes were harvested for immunoassay, histological, and immunohistochemistry analyses. Testicular perturbations of varying severity were recorded in all treated groups for most of the parameters. The DM+A treated group showed the most severe perturbations, followed sequentially by the treated groups DM+A+cART, DM, and DM+cART. Alterations in the testes and seminiferous tubule morphometry as well as the spermatogenic, Sertoli, and Leydig cells were found in all treated groups. Further, a significant decrease in Johnsen’s testicular scores, the appearance of seminiferous tubule lesions, changes in the basement membrane and capsule thickness, and a reduction in the testis connective tissue fibers were demonstrated in the treated groups. Additionally, reproductive hormone levels were altered, and the number and staining intensity of Sertoli and Leydig cells expressing androgen receptors reduced significantly in all treated animals. The study results reveal that the consumption of alcohol and/or the use of cART in diabetic individuals induces a derangement in circulating reproductive hormone levels and in the testicular structure and function, which consequently leads to a decline in the male reproductive capacity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/5096testicular structureHPG axisdiabetes mellitusalcohol abuseantiretroviral therapy |
| spellingShingle | Elna Owembabazi Pilani Nkomozepi Ejikeme F. Mbajiorgu Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity Applied Sciences testicular structure HPG axis diabetes mellitus alcohol abuse antiretroviral therapy |
| title | Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity |
| title_full | Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity |
| title_short | Impact of Concurrent Exposure of Diabetic Male Sprague Dawley Rats to Alcohol and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) on Reproductive Capacity |
| title_sort | impact of concurrent exposure of diabetic male sprague dawley rats to alcohol and combination antiretroviral therapy cart on reproductive capacity |
| topic | testicular structure HPG axis diabetes mellitus alcohol abuse antiretroviral therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/5096 |
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