Lutein dietary supplementation attenuates streptozotocin-induced testicular damage and oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus with the successive generation of reactive oxygen species signifies a major risk factor for testicular dysfunction. Antioxidant supplements are one of the best options to prevent such disorder. In the present study, lutein as dietary supplement has been used to explore its potential protective effects against diabetes-induced oxidative stress in testicular cells.

These findings showed that lutein has potential beneficial effects in diabetes-induced testicular damage, probably through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Diabetes was induced using a single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Lutein was mixed with rat chow powder and supplemented to diabetic rats for 5 weeks. Serum testosterone levels were estimated. In testicular cells, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total sulfhydryl groups (T-GSH), non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured. Pro-inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were measured in the testis. Nucleic acids and total protein (TP) levels were also estimated in testicular cells. Histopathological changes were evaluated in testis.

Serum testosterone level was significantly decreased in diabetic animals compared to controls. Diabetes markedly reduced T-GSH, NP-SH, CAT and SOD, while TBARS, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were increased in the diabetic testis compared to non-diabetic controls. Lutein supplementation, significantly and dose dependently increased the serum testosterone level. The elevated TBARS levels were significantly decreased compared to diabetic group, while the decreased levels of T-GSH and NP-SH and activities of CAT and SOD were found increased by lutein treatments in dose dependent manner. Lutein pretreatment also inhibited the TNF-α and IL-1β levels compared to diabetic group. The decreased values of nucleic acids and total protein in diabetic group were also significantly increased in lutein supplemented groups. The histopathological evaluation revealed protection the damaged testicular cells in the diabetic rats by lutein supplementation.