Victor Udo Nna1,2, Ainul Bahiyah Abu Bakar1, Azlina Ahmad3, Usman Zayyanu Umar4, Joseph Bagi Suleiman1,5, Zaida Zakaria1, Zaidatul Akmal Othman1,6, Mahaneem Mohamed1,7. 1. Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia. 2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. 3. Basic Science and Oral Biology Unit, School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia. 4. Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 5. Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Nigeria. 6. Faculty of Medicine, University Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. 7. Unit of Integrative Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the risk factors for male subfertility/infertility. Malaysian propolis is reported to decrease hyperglycaemia in diabetic state. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the protective effect of Malaysian propolis on diabetes-induced subfertility/infertility. Additionally, its combined beneficial effects with metformin were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups, namely normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + Malaysian propolis (300 mg/k.g. b.w.), diabetic + metformin (300 mg/kg b.w.) and diabetic + Malaysian propolis + metformin. Diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg b.w.) and treatment lasted for 4 weeks. During the 4th week, mating behavioural experiments were performed using sexually receptive female rats. Thereafter, fertility parameters were assessed in the female rats. RESULTS: Malaysian propolis increased serum and intratesticular free testosterone levels, up-regulated the mRNA levels of AR and luteinizing hormone receptor, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD in the testes of diabetic rats. Furthermore, Malaysian propolis up-regulated testicular MCT2, MCT4 and lactate dehydrogenase type C mRNA levels, in addition to improving sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and normal morphology) and decreasing sperm nDNA fragmentation in diabetic rats. Malaysian propolis improved mating behaviour by increasing penile guanosine monophosphate levels. Malaysian propolis also improved fertility outcome as seen with decreases in pre- and post-implantation losses, increases in gravid uterine weight, litter size per dam and foetal weight. Malaysian propolis's effects were comparable to metformin. However, their combination yielded better results relative to the monotherapeutic interventions. CONCLUSION: Malaysian propolis improves fertility potential in diabetic state by targeting steroidogenesis, testicular lactate metabolism, spermatogenesis and mating behaviour, with better effects when co-administered with metformin. Therefore, Malaysian propolis shows a promising complementary effect with metformin in mitigating Diabetes mellitus-induced subfertility/infertility.
BACKGROUND:Diabetes mellitus is one of the risk factors for male subfertility/infertility. Malaysian propolis is reported to decrease hyperglycaemia in diabetic state. OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the protective effect of Malaysian propolis on diabetes-induced subfertility/infertility. Additionally, its combined beneficial effects with metformin were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups, namely normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + Malaysian propolis (300 mg/k.g. b.w.), diabetic + metformin (300 mg/kg b.w.) and diabetic + Malaysian propolis + metformin. Diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg b.w.) and treatment lasted for 4 weeks. During the 4th week, mating behavioural experiments were performed using sexually receptive female rats. Thereafter, fertility parameters were assessed in the female rats. RESULTS: Malaysian propolis increased serum and intratesticular free testosterone levels, up-regulated the mRNA levels of AR and luteinizing hormone receptor, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD in the testes of diabeticrats. Furthermore, Malaysian propolis up-regulated testicular MCT2, MCT4 and lactate dehydrogenase type C mRNA levels, in addition to improving sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and normal morphology) and decreasing sperm nDNA fragmentation in diabeticrats. Malaysian propolis improved mating behaviour by increasing penile guanosine monophosphate levels. Malaysian propolis also improved fertility outcome as seen with decreases in pre- and post-implantation losses, increases in gravid uterine weight, litter size per dam and foetal weight. Malaysian propolis's effects were comparable to metformin. However, their combination yielded better results relative to the monotherapeutic interventions. CONCLUSION: Malaysian propolis improves fertility potential in diabetic state by targeting steroidogenesis, testicular lactate metabolism, spermatogenesis and mating behaviour, with better effects when co-administered with metformin. Therefore, Malaysian propolis shows a promising complementary effect with metformin in mitigating Diabetes mellitus-induced subfertility/infertility.
Authors: Andrey A Bakhtyukov; Kira V Derkach; Viktor N Sorokoumov; Anna M Stepochkina; Irina V Romanova; Irina Yu Morina; Irina O Zakharova; Liubov V Bayunova; Alexander O Shpakov Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-12-24 Impact factor: 5.923