(687.5) Catfish Fraction B preparation improves the testicular morphology and functions through modulating the apoptotic pathway in STZ-induced diabetes rat model

Poster Board Number: D29

Waleed Renno (Kuwait University - Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University - Faculty of Medicine), Jassim AlHassan (Kuwait University - Faculty of Biological Sciences)

Diabetes Mellitus (DM)-induced reproductive dysfunctions and infertility in men are globally on the rise with the increased incidence of DM patients. Diabetes causes testicular damage leading to reproductive dysfunctions. Further, DM-induced reproductive dysfunctions are multifactorial in etiology encompassing both central (neurogenic) and peripheral (vasculogenic) components and appear more severe and more resistant to treatment than nondiabetic reproductive dysfunctions. Thus, there is a need for newer, more effective therapies based on an increased understanding of the underlying mechanisms of DM-induced reproductive dysfunctions. We have recently shown that Fraction B (FB) preparation from a catfish (Arius bilineatus, Val.)  significantly lowered blood glucose, increased insulin levels, and caused regeneration of damaged organs and tissues in STZ-induced diabetes in rats. This study investigated the effect of  daily IP administration of 3 mg FB/kg animal body weight for 8 and 12 weeks on the histology and function of the testes and analyzed its role on the apoptotic pathway using STZ-induced diabetes in male rat model. Our results showed that FB treatment significantly lowered the blood glucose and restored the sperm count and motility in the treated diabetic rats. Concomitantly, the treated diabetic animals showed significant recovery in the diameter and thickness of the reproductive epithelium of the seminiferous tubules with significant improvement in stereological parameters (Johnsen’s Scoring) of the testicular histology to close to control values. Further, the diabetic-treated animals showed significant downregulation of pro-apoptotic parameters and upregulation of anti-apoptotic markers. In conclusion, our results revealed a positive therapeutic effect of FB preparation on testes following the 8- and 12-weeks treatment of STZ-induced diabetes in rats. This study opens the way for the first time to the possible therapeutic application of FB preparation to DM–induced reproductive dysfunctions and explores its possible curative mechanisms in diabetic testes.

This study was funded by Kuwait University Research Administration, Project No. MA01/19.