Modulatory Effect of Pioglitazone on Sperm Parameters and Oxidative Stress, Apoptotic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Testes of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus causes testicular damage by increasing oxidative stress and inflammation. In the present study, modulation of oxidative stress by pioglitazone, a synthetic ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, was examined in testis of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, i.p.) injection in male Wistar rats. 32 adult male rats were divided into four groups (n=8): control, diabetic, diabetic pioglitazone (1 mg/kg/day) and diabetic pioglitazone (10 mg/kg/day). Rats were treated with pioglitazone for 5 weeks. Serum testosterone levels were estimated. Reproductive damage was evaluated by sperm parameters (viability, motility, morphology and count). Oxidative stress markers were evaluated in testicular homogenate. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β) levels, expressions of inflammatory (inducible nitric oxide synthase and nuclear factor-κ B) and apoptotic markers (caspase-3) in testicular tissue were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot.
Pioglitazone treatment significantly increased sperm parameters (p0.05). Aside from reducing the elevated tissue nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels, pioglitazone increased the reduced superoxide dismutase, catalas and total antioxidant capacity in testes compared to diabetic rats (p Pioglitazone attenuated testicular damage in diabetic rats by decreasing oxidative stress, testicular inflammation and testicular damage.