The protective effects of Crocin on testopathy in fat-fed and streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats: An experimental study

Background: Male hypogonadism is associated with type II diabetes mellitus due totesticular dysfunction. Medicinal plants have received considerable attention for themanagement of diabetes and its complications.Objective: The aim of present study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic and protectiveinfluence of Crocin on testopathy in diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, type II of diabetes mellitus wasinduced by high-fat diet and low dose of streptozotocin. Male Wistar rats (8 weeks,150–200 gr, 18 rats; n= 6 per group) were divided into a control group (standarddiet), diabetic group (streptozotocin+high-fat diet), and treatment group (High-fatdiet+streptozotocin+Crocin at 20 mg/kg/day, i.p. for 60 days). After 60 days, animalswere euthanized, testis and epididymis were dissected, and weights of testes andsperm count were analyzed. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained was done for histopathologicalexamination. Blood samples were collected for the assessment of serum glucose andcholesterol.Results: High-fat diet and streptozotocin significantly increased the serum glucoseand cholesterol levels as compared to the control group (p≤ 0. 001). Moreover, therewas a significant decrease in the weight of right (p= 0.008) and left testes (p≤ 0.001) and also the total sperm count (p= 0.023) in the diabetic group compared withthe control group. Current results also identified that type II diabetes mellitus induceddegeneration in the morphology of seminiferous tubules. Application of Crocin couldsignificantly decrease serum glucose and cholesterol levels (p= 0.003). Furthermore,Crocin treatment significantly increased the weight of the right (p= 0.026) and left(p= 0.014) testes and total sperm count (p= 0.000). Also, Crocin could attenuate thepathological changes of the testes in the treatment group.Conclusion: Present findings concluded that Crocin treatment improved diabetictestopathy and impairment of seminiferous tubules induced by high-fat diet andstreptozotocin.