Role of Aminoguanidine on the Testis of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Albino Rat, A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus caused several biochemichal abnormalities affecting the male reproductive system structure and function. Insulin treatment could decrease these abnormalities, but unable to prevent them completely. Aminoguanidine (AG) administration might regulate the diabetic complications. Aim of the Work: To evaluate effect of diabetes on rat testes and the role of insulin treatment alone and in combination with AG administration on affected testes. Materials and Methods: Twenty five adult albino rats were used. They were divided into three groups. Group I served as control group, containing five rats. Group II included five rats which received daily AG in a dose of 100 mg/kg orally. Group III included diabetic rats in which diabetes was induced by a single injection of 30 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). The diabetic group was subdivided into three subgroups, each containing five rats: subgroup III a; with no treatment, subgroup III b; with insulin treatment and subgroup III c; with both insulin and AG treatment. After 6 weeks, testes were removed and prepared for H and E, PAS and electron microscopic studies. Results: Sections of the diabetic non-treated rat testes revealed few spermatogenia and primary spermatocytes with condensed nuclei lining most of the seminiferous tubules (S.T.) with widening of the interstitial tissue. Morphometric study showed a significant decrease in S.T. diameter. The electron microscopic examination showed affection of both spermatogenic and Sertoli cells with less active Leydig cells. Diabetic rats treated with insulin showed mild improvement of the testes structure. While, diabetic rats treated with both insulin and AG showed restoration of testes structure, nearly similar to the control animals. Conclusion: It was concluded that STZ-induced diabetes affected the structure of the rat testes. Administration of AG in combination with insulin decreased the degenerative changes occurring in diabetes and caused marked improvement of the rat testes.