The protective effect of Aloe vera on histological and histometrical structure of diabetic rat testis

Structure and function of various organs including testes altered in diabetic humans and animals. Some anti-diabetic and protective agents prevent the lesions caused by diabetes via reducing the hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Aloe vera has various effects such as decreasing blood glucose in diabetes. Thus in the present study، the protective effect of Aloe vera was evaluated on testicular structure in experimental diabetic rats. Twenty five adult male rats (220-240gr) were divided into five groups (5 rats in each group). One group containing rats was kept as control. Diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (60mg/kg) intraperitoneally in 3 groups. First group was treated by Aloe vera gel (300 mg/kg) daily for 7 weeks orally and second group was treated (subcutaneous) by insulin (60mg/kg) and third group did not receive any medication during the maintenance period and was kept under the control of diabetes. The fifth group was non-diabetic which received 300 mg/kg Aloe vera gel daily. After 7 weeks، the rats were weighed and blood glucose measured، then the rats sacrificed and their testes were removed. The testes were weighted and their volume calculated using water displacement method. The results showed that average diameter and epithelium height of the seminiferous tubules، the average number of spermatogenic and sertoli cells were decreased significantly in diabetic rats but these changes were reduced significantly in treated groups by Aloe vera and insulin. So، the testis structure was supported in diabetic rats by Aloe vera gel administration. The testis and body weight of treated diabetic rats were also increased significantly. It seems that the Aloe vera gel has a direct or indirect supportive effect on testicular structure in diabetes mellitus.