Protective effect of some selected fruit blends on testicular toxicity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The protective effect of a developed drink from blends of selected fruits on the sperm quality of alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated. METHODS: Diabetes was intraperitoneally induced with alloxan; the formulated drink blend was orally administered 2.5 or 5 mL/day. Treatment lasted for 14 days and the rats were humanely sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The antioxidant status via assessment of reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was carried out on the testis, while sperm cells were analyzed for sperm motility, counts and abnormality. RESULTS: Induction of diabetes led to a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in GSH level, elevated SOD and CAT activities, significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the sperm quality parameters studied. However, treatment with the formulated drink led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LPO, SOD and CAT activities as well as increase in GSH level. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an improvement in testicular antioxidant activities and sperm qualities by single and double doses of the formulation, suggesting its protective potential against testicular toxicity in diabetic rats.