Abstract
Background: Co-administration of streptozotocin and fructose is believed to induce type 2 diabetes as well as to cause reproductive toxicity and testicular damage via increasing oxidative stress in rats.
Objectives: In this study, the potential protective effect of Costus afer leaves methanol extract (CAME) on andrological parameters and pituitary-gonadal axis hormones of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in rats treated with streptozotocin and fructose was investigated.
Methods: A total of 35 rats were divided into five groups, each including seven rats. Group 1 received normal saline, whereas T2D was induced in rats from groups 2, 3, 4, and 5. Group 2 served as diabetic control; while groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated orally with 12 mg/kg body weight (BW) of metformin as well as 100 and 200 BW of CAME, respectively, for 4 weeks. Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal responses, andrological parameters, DNA fragmentation, and oxidative stress parameters of the reproductive organs were examined in all treatment groups.
Results: Administration of CAME reduced the degenerative changes in testes, epididymis and improved pituitary-gonadal axis hormone concentrations, and sperm morphology occasioned by the treatments.
Conclusion: It was concluded that the administration of CAME ameliorated reproductive abnormalities in T2D rat models treated with streptozotocin-fructose administration.