Effects of curcumin on sperm quality, lipid profile, antioxidant activity and histopathological changes in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Ameliorative Effects of Curcumin on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a multifactorial and complicated metabolic disorder, is a growing public health problem. Numerous studies have indicated that bioactive compounds from herbal medicine have beneficial effects on T2DM prevention and treatment, owing to their numerous biological properties. Curcumin, the major curcuminoid of turmeric, is one of the most studied bioactive components of herbal supplements, and has a variety of biological activities. Clinical trials and preclinical research have recently produced compelling data to demonstrate the crucial functions of curcumin against T2DM via several routes. Accordingly, this review systematically summarizes the antidiabetic activity of curcumin, along with various mechanisms. Results showed that effectiveness of curcumin on T2DM is due to it being anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antihyperglycemic, anti-apoptotic, and antihyperlipidemic, among other activities. In light of these results, curcumin may be a promising prevention/treatment choice for T2DM.

Pathogenesis of diabetic complications: Exploring hypoxic niche formation and HIF-1α activation

Hypoxia is a common feature of diabetic tissues, which highly correlates to the progression of diabetes. The formation of hypoxic context is induced by disrupted oxygen homeostasis that is predominantly driven by vascular remodeling in diabetes. While different types of vascular impairments have been reported, the specific features and underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully understood. Under hypoxic condition, cells upregulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), an oxygen sensor that coordinates oxygen concentration and cell metabolism under hypoxic conditions. However, diabetic context exploits this machinery for pathogenic functions. Although HIF-1α protects cells from diabetic insult in multiple tissues, it also jeopardizes cell function in the retina. To gain a deeper understanding of hypoxia in diabetic complications, we focus on the formation of tissue hypoxia and the outcomes of HIF-1α dysregulation under diabetic context. Hopefully, this review can provide a better understanding on hypoxia biology in diabetes.

Curcumin displays a potent caloric restriction mimetic effect in an accelerated senescent model of rat

Curcumin, a strong natural compound with numerous health benefits, is extracted from the Curcuma longa. According to recent research findings, it also acts as a calorie restriction mimetic. We examined established aging biomarkers in erythrocytes and plasma and tested a persistent oral dietary dose of curcumin in young and D-galactose-induced accelerated rat aging models. For four weeks, D-gal (300 mg/kg b.w. subcutaneously) and curcumin (200 mg/kg b.w. oral) were administered simultaneously to test the protective effects of curcumin against D-galactose-induced accelerated aging and oxidative stress. In the accelerated senescent rat model, we discovered a significant rise in protein carbonyl, malonaldehyde (MDA), and advanced oxidation protein products. Increased levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, ferric-reducing antioxidant potential, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed. Our findings reveal that curcumin has characteristics resembling a calorie restriction mimic and can successfully maintain redox equilibrium throughout the aging process in rat erythrocytes and plasma.

Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis disruption in a model of metabolic syndrome rats

CONTEXT

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of several physiological alterations.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of MetS on rats spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a MetS rodent model using high-sugar and high-fat diet.

RESULTS

MetS rats showed severe disorders in sperm parameters. Interestingly, a significant increase in malondialdehyde level and a decrease in the antioxidant activities were observed. Moreover, qRT-PCR analysis showed Bax down-regulation and Bcl-2 up-regulation. A decrease in testosterone level was identified, correlated with the CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and 17β HSD testicular marker down-regulation. Finally, MetS rats showed an up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines receptors IL-1R and IL-6R.

CONCLUSION

MetS induced severe testis toxicity in male rats. Mets markedly distorted sperm parameters, inhibited the transcription of steroidogenic enzymes and led to oxidative stress, inflammation, and alteration of Bax/Bcl-2 ratioin testicular tissues.

The Formulation of Curcumin: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin Complex with Smart Hydrogel for Prolonged Release of Curcumin

Curcumin comes from the plant species Curcuma longa and shows numerous pharmacological activities. There are numerous curcumin formulations with gels or cyclodextrins in order to increase its solubility and bioavailability. This paper presents the formulation of complex of curcumin with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in a thermosensitive hydrogel, based on N-isopropylmethacrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker. The product was characterized by chemical methods and also by FTIR, HPLC, DSC, SEM, XRD. The results show that synthesis was successfully done. With an increase in the quantity of crosslinker in the hydrogels, the starting release and the release rate of curcumin from the formulation of the complex with hydrogels decreases. The release rate of curcumin from the gel complex formulation is constant over time. It is possible to design a formulation that will release curcumin for more than 60 days. In order to determine the mechanism and kinetics of curcumin release, various mathematical models were applied by using the DDSolver package for Microsoft Excel application. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model best describes the release of curcumin from the gel formulation of the complex, while the values for the diffusion exponent (0.063-0.074) shows that mechanism of the release rate is based on diffusion.

Evaluation of lipidomic change in goat sperm after cryopreservation

The current study aimed to detect the relationship between the spermatozoa cryotolerance and the post-thawed sperm lipidome. Ejaculates from 20 goats, and performed a uniform frozen-thawed procedure in this study. According to the total motility of thawed sperm of goats, semen samples were classified into HF group (High Freezers, n = 8) with >60% total motility and LF group (Low Freezers, n = 8) with < 45% total motility. The lipidomic analysis based on UHPLC-MS/MS was utilized to investigate the relationship between sperm cryotolerance and their lipid metabolites expression. The results showed that the cryotolerance of sperm from different individual goats were in great variation. The total motility of post-thawed sperm in HF group (60.93 ± 2.43%) is significantly higher than that in LF group (34.04 ± 3.41%, P < 0.01). And the post-thawed sperm in HF group exhibited significantly higher plasma membrane (59.06 ± 2.34%) and acrosome integrity (62.93 ± 1.15%) than that in LF group (34.06 ± 4.85%, 44.92 ± 2.19% respectively, P < 0.01). The total of 29 lipid subclasses and 1,133 lipid molecules in the post-thawed goat sperm were identified by lipidomics analysis. The lipid content of thawed sperm in HF group was higher than that in LF group, the lipid profile in HF group was significantly separated from LF group, which indicated that the difference in lipid composition and lipid metabolism mode of sperm between the two groups was existed, especially the expression of phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride molecules. In conclusion, the cryotolerance of sperm from different individual goats were in great variation. Sperm with high cryotolerance may be able to uptake more lipids during cryopreservation. The increase in phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride content of thawed. Sperm may relate to more active lipid anabolic processes.

Metagenomic Analysis of Intestinal Microbiota in Florated Rats

Changes in gut microbiota have shown that it plays an important role in animal health and metabolic diseases. The intestinal microbiota is a complex structure that functions as an organ system with the presence of trillions of microorganisms. In this study, changes in the intestinal microbiota of Wistar rats with high fluorine were evaluated. Water containing 100 ppm NaF was given to 14 male Wistar albino rats as drinking water for 12 weeks. Fluorine is known to be an inducer of protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, modulation of intracellular redox homeostasis, and oxidative stress. In this study, it was determined that the level of MDA (molandialdehyde), one of the oxidative stress parameters, increased significantly in the intestinal tissue after fluorine intoxication. The decrease in CAT (catalase) and SOD (superoxide dismutase) enzyme activities was found to be statistically significant. Intestinal tissues were taken under aseptic conditions and microorganisms found in flora were replicated by V3-V4 16S rRNA gene-specific primers. As a result of the sequence analysis, a statistical comparison of the control group and the fluorine applied group was made. The study we have done showed that there was a significant difference in species diversity in the intestinal microbiota of mice treated with fluorine. As a result, the composition of the intestinal microflora, especially Lactobacillus species, was significantly changed in rats with high fluorine.

A comparative study between curcumin and curcumin nanoemulsion on high-fat, high-fructose diet-induced impaired spermatogenesis in rats

Objectives

Curcumin is a promising nutraceutical with reported diverse therapeutic properties, but of limited oral bioavailability. The current manuscript investigates the role of encapsulation of curcumin in nanoemulsion form in counteracting the adverse effect of chronic ingestion of a high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHF) by juvenile male rats regarding testicular abnormalities and declined spermatogenesis.

Methods

Curcumin nanoemulsion was administered orally to Wistar rats at a dose of 5 or 10 mg/kg and compared with curcumin powder, followed by a pharmacological and histological assessment.

Key findings

Results demonstrated that curcumin nanoemulsion was superior to curcumin powder, particularly in enhancing the percentage progressive motility of spermatozoa, normalization of essential and non-essential amino acids in semen, normalization of serum leptin and testosterone levels, as well as normalization of oxidative and nitrosative parameters. It was also proven to reduce testicular DNA fragmentation, while elevating testicular cellular energy. In addition, curcumin nanoemulsion administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg induced the highest level of spermatogenesis, delineated by histological examination of the seminiferous tubules.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that curcumin nanoemulsion administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg successfully ameliorates the adverse effects of a HFHF on spermatogenesis.

Ameliorative effect of hesperidin on streptozotocin-diabetes mellitus-induced testicular DNA damage and sperm quality degradation in Sprague-Dawley rats

This study aimed to investigate the effect of hesperidin on reproductive damage caused by diabetes mellitus. A total of 24 adult male rats were divided into four groups: control group, hesperidin group, diabetes mellitus group, and diabetes mellitus + hesperidin group. The study was conducted for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and testicular oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT), DNA damage in testes (8-OHdG), and routine sperm parameters were evaluated. According to the results of the study, most of the parameters were similar in the control and hesperidin groups but CAT activity in the hesperidin group was statistically higher than the control group. Also, diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly increased MDA levels and decreased enzymatic antioxidant (GSH-Px, SOD, CAT) activities and nonenzymatic (GSH) antioxidant levels. On the other hand, hesperidin supplementation significantly decreased oxidative stress and increased enzymatic antioxidant activities and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels due to the antioxidant effect. Also, DM increased DNA damage levels in testicular tissue and hesperidin supplementation significantly decreased DNA damage levels in testes of diabetic male rats. Besides, sperm motility significantly decreased while abnormal sperm rate and dead sperm rate were significantly increased in diabetic rats. Hesperidin supplementation significantly reduced these side effects in diabetic rats. In conclusion, hesperidin supplementation could be beneficial for decreasing the side effects on the male reproductive system caused by DM in rats. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Diabetes is an important metabolic disease, affecting quality of life and fertility. Hesperidin has an antioxidant effect and has a potential protective effect on reproductive toxicity in diabetic male rats. Hesperidin decreased oxidative stress, and DNA damage in testis resulted from hyperglycemia and improved sperm quality in diabetic rats. The hesperidin supplementation could be a good strategy to protect male fertility in diabetic patients.

A study of the aphrodisiac properties of Cordyceps militaris in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats

Background and Aim:

Cordyceps militaris (CM) is a fungus that has been used to enhance aphrodisiac activity in men, but to date, no studies have focused on its antidiabetic properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CM on reproductive performance of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rats.

Materials and Methods:

Six-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control Group 1 consisting of healthy rats; Group 2, healthy rats treated with CM (100 mg/kg); Group 3, diabetic untreated rats; and Group 4, diabetic rats treated with CM (100 mg/kg). Rats were orally administered with vehicle or CM for 21 days. The body weight, blood glucose level, food intake, epididymal sperm parameter, sexual behavior, serum testosterone level, and antioxidant parameters were determined.

Results:

The results indicated that CM treatment in STZ-induced diabetic rats significantly improved the epididymal sperm parameter and serum testosterone level and, in turn, their copulatory behavior. CM treatment in diabetic rats significantly ameliorated malondialdehyde level and significantly improved the glutathione and catalase levels.

Conclusion:

These results provide new information on the pharmacological properties of CM in ameliorating testicular damage due to oxidative stress and improving sexual performance in diabetic male rats.

Ameliorating effects of curcumin-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the mouse testis exposed to the transient hyperthermia: A molecular and stereological study

BACKGROUND

Testicular hyperthermia can have negative effects on male fertility. Despite reported therapeutic benefits of curcumin, several factors often limit its application such as low water solubility and instable structure. Curcumin-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were designed to solve its limitation of use. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of curcumin-loaded SPIONs on transient testicular hyperthermia in mouse.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

A total of 18 adult male NMRI mice were divided into three groups (n = 6): I. Controls (Cont), II. Scrotal hyperthermia (Hyp), III. Scrotal hyperthermia + curcumin-loaded iron particles (240 μL) (Hyp + Cur). After seventy days, the animals were sacrificed and used for further molecular and stereological evaluations.

RESULTS

Sperm count, motility and viability significantly decreased in group hyp as compared to cont group. Furthermore, Sperm DNA fragmentation and cell apoptosis in testes increased remarkably in group hyp, compared with group cont. Stereological study showed a reduction in number of spermatogenic and Leydig cells, as well as reduced weight and volume of testes in hyp group. Degenerative appearance of testes exposed to hyperthermia was also observed. In addition, higher mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL1-α, IL6, and TNF-α) was detected in group hyp compared to cont group. However, curcumin-loaded SPIONs alleviated all of the pathologic changes in the Hyp + Cur group compared to the hyp group.

CONCLUSION

Here, we used nanoparticle form of curcumin in testicular hyperthermia model and showed its ameliorating effects on testes damages caused by heat stress, which can be an appropriate method to overcome the problems that limit curcumin application in cases with increased intra testicular temperature.