The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) on Testicular Damage in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Masoumeh Samiei ¹ , Vida Hojati ² , Shahram Sharafi ³

1 - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran

Received: 2024-07-24 Accepted : 2024-11-13 Published : 2025-01-12

Keywords: Diabetes, Carob extract, Spermatogenesis, Testicular damage, Rat,

Abstract :

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder worldwide and leads to testicular damage, reduced spermatogenesis, and reduced male sexual activity. Carob plant plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of complications caused by oxidative stress due to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of carob fruit hydroalcoholic extract on testicular damage caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. In this study, 32 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group (healthy), the diabetic group (via intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin), the first experimental group (diabetic + 50 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of carob) and the second experimental group (diabetic + 100 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of carob) which received the extract intraperitoneally for five weeks after becoming diabetic for two months. At the end of the fifth week, blood samples were taken from the samples and hormonal factors were measured and testicular tissue sections were evaluated using hematotoxin-eosin staining. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's supplementary test were used for statistical analysis. Diabetes led to testicular damage, decreased spermatogenesis and Sertoli cells, decreased insulin and testosterone, and a significant decrease in the diameter and number of germ cells of the seminiferous tubule. In the experimental groups, the levels of insulin and testosterone hormones increased significantly and were associated with an increase in germ cells and the diameter of the germ layer. Consumption of carob hydroalcoholic extract significantly reduced testicular damage in diabetic rats and could play an important role in its improvement.

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