چكيده لاتين :
Background: Our recent findings have shown that the rat testis is subjected to significant oxidative
stress during the early phase of diabet es induced by Streptozotocin (STZ). In the present study, we
have investigated whether oral supplementation of beta-carotene (BC) to pubertal rats would provide
protecti on against diabete s associated oxidative stress in testis and liver.
Materials and Methods: Male (6 wk old) rats were rendered diab etic by an acute dose of
Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg bw) and were given oral BC supplements (20 mg/kg bw/d on altern ate
days) for 4 weeks. The modulatory potency of BC was asses sed by determin ation of selected
markers of oxidative stress in testis and liver.
Results: The testi s of STZ-administered rats exhib ited significantly elevated statu s of lipid
peroxidation (cytoso l and mitochondr ia) and increased ROS produ ction compared to the nondiabet
ic controls. Oral supplements of BC completely normalized the oxidative damage in testis.
Further, STZ-indu ced depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and elevated protein carbonyl
content in testis were also restor ed to normalcy. The prote ctive effects of BC in testi s were also
discerni ble in terms of restoration of activities of variou s antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats.
Furthermore, STZ-induced oxidative impa irments in liver were also abrogated significantly by BC
treatm ent. STZ-induced perturbations in serum and testicular lipid profiles in diabetic rats were also
attenuated by BC treatment.
Conclusion: Collectively, our data indicate that oral supplementation ofjl- carotene can significantly
mitigate the diabetes assoc iated oxidati ve impairments in testis as well as in liver and sugges t its
efficacy as a complementary ther apeuti c agent in the management of diabetes associated oxidative
stress mediated complications.
