The Effect of Aqueous Extract of Zizyphus Jujube Fruit on Mean Volume And Total Number of Leydig Cells And Plasma Testosterone Level in Type I Diabetic Male Rats

Our previous studies showed that aqueous extract of Zizyphus jujube (AEZJ) can significantly reduce blood glucose level by decreasing of DSRSWRVLV LQ SDQFUHDWLF FHOOV. 7KLV VWXG ZDV conducted to evaluate the effect of AEZJ on Leydig cells and plasma testosterone level (PTL) in streptozotocin induced hyperglycemic male rats.Twenty adult male Wistar rats were divided into control, sham, diabetic and treatment groups. Hyperglycemia was induced by 50mg/kg streptozotocin. Sham and treatment groups received 50mg/kg/day total AEZJ by oral gavage for 30 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken from abdominal aorta and serum analysis by a double antibody radioimmunoassay ELISA kit. The left testes were fixed in 10%neutral buffered formalin. Mean volume of Leydig cells (MV) was estimated by point sampled intercept method and its total number (TN) were estimated by optical dissector and stereo-investigator system using an XQELDVHG FRXQWLQJ IUDPH RQ 20 P VHFWLRQV. DWD analyzed by one way ANOVA and Tukey s post hoc.The results showed that induction of diabetes significantly decreased PTL by decreasing in TN and MV of Leydig cells. In the sham group, no significant difference was observed in these variables compared to control group. In the treatment group, the PTL, MV and TN of Leydig cells were significantly increased compared to the diabetic group (p<0.001), but had no significant difference with control group. Based on our results, it can be concluded that AEZJ administration can be considered as a suitable supportive strategy to improve the fertility in diabetic males by protective effect on Leydig cells.

Keywords:

Diabetes , Leydig Cells , Testis , Testosterone , Zizyphus Jujube