الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial disorder associated with malfunctions in several organs and systems, including the reproductive system. Testicular functions are adversely affected by diabetes. In male rats, diabetes results in atrophy of sex organs and a decrease in semen analysis parameters, along with hormonal disturbances including low testosterone level, in addition to histopathological changes in the testis. Synthetic anti-diabetic medications showed a significant hypoglycemic impact, nevertheless, certain patients may find them less suitable due to their side effects and expense. Since many natural plants, particularly edible wild plants offer antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory qualities, they have been utilized as an alternative treatment for diabetes and its complications. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic role of the two edible wild plants; chicory (Cichorium Intybus) and purslane (Portulaca oleracea) against testicular dysfunction associated with diabetes.In this current study, adult male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing about 120 ± 10 g were used. After two weeks of acclimatization, the rats were divided into six groups, 6 rats in each one as follows:1-Control rats group (C): Rats received a balanced diet without any treatment.2-Chicory rats group (Ch):Rats were orally administered with chicory seed extract (250 mg/Kg) daily for 30 days.3-Purslane rats group (Pu):Rats were orally administered with purslane seed extract (200 mg/Kg) daily day for 30 days.4-Diabetic rats group (STZ):Rats were intraperitoneally injected with (50 mg/Kg) STZ in a single dose to induce experimental diabetes.5-Diabetic & chicory rats group (STZ+Ch):rats were orally administered with chicory seed extract (250 mg/Kg) daily for 30 days.6-Diabetic & purslane rats group (STZ+Pu):Diabetic rats were orally administered with purslane seed extract (200 mg/Kg) daily for 30 days.At the end of the experimental period (30 days), all rats were fasted overnight and then sacrificed whereas the blood samples were collected in sterile tubes and centrifuged for 15 minutes. Sera were kept at -20°C until they were used for biochemical analysis. Immediately after collecting the blood, the rats were dissected and the two testes from each animal were carefully removed. The right testes were fixed in neutral formalin (10%) for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. The left testes were obtained, weighed and minced in ice-cold saline solution using a teflon homogenizer. The homogenates were centrifuged for 20 min at 4° C, and the resultant supernatants were kept at -20° C for biochemical analysis. The left caudal epididymis from each rat was transferred into a sterile bottle containing 3 ml of normal saline for semen analysis.The present results are summarized as follows:In STZ diabetic rats, several alterations were recorded such as:Significant increase in FBG and serum fructosamine levels. Noticeable increase in the level of lipid peroxidation marker MDA as well as AO and XO enzyme activity, whereas testicular antioxidant biomarkers, including GSH, TAC, SOD and CAT were significantly decreased. marked decrease in the parameters of semen analysis including sperm count, motility, vitality and normal morphology. Significant decrease in serum testosterone level whereas FSH and LH were significantly increased.Significant increase in serum lipids such as TL, TC, TG, LDL and VLDL as well as testis TL and TC levels, whereas serum HDL-C was significantly increased.A marked decrease in serum and testis TP content. Noticeable increase in ALP and ACP enzyme activity.Significant decrease in serum Zn level and non-significant decrease in serum Cu level.increase in inflammatory markers such as testis TNF-α and IL-6 as well as serum CRP. Significant increase in the marker of DNA fragmentation (O8HdG) level. Significant decrease in testis antiapoptotic marker (Bcl-2) level.The Immunohistochemical examination of the apoptotic marker (caspase-3) showed intensive protein expression in testis tissue. On the contrary, the immunochemical examination of sertoli cells cytoskeleton (vimentin) recorded weak expression in sertoli cells.Histopathological observations of STZ diabetic rats that stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) recorded severe testicular damages such as numerous partial or segmental tubular degeneration and vacuolation owing to germ cell deficiency. Also, multinucleated cells were shown within the disorganized germinal layers. Furthermore, necrotic seminiferous tubules within the testicular tissue were characterized by excessive-eosinophilic undifferentiated cells. In addition to this, Leydig cells were diffused and disassembled.On the other hand, treatment of STZ diabetic rats with chicory and purslane seed extracts showed amelioration in the observed alterations in all of the tested parameters associated with diabetes as follows: Significant reduction in diabetic biomarkers as FBG and fructosamine.Significant decrease in lipid peroxidation marker, MDA as well as the enzyme activity of AO and XO concomitant with an elevation of antioxidant biomarkers such as GSH, SOD, TAC and CAT.Amelioration in the parameters of semen analysis such as sperm count, motility, vitality and normal morphology accompanied by increasing testosterone and decreasing FSH as well as LH hormones.Significant decrease in serum lipids such as TL, TC, TG, LDL and VLDL as well as testis TL and TC levels, whereas serum HDL-C was significantly decreased.Amelioration of serum and testis TP content.Significant decrease in ALP and ACP enzyme activity.Amelioration of serum Zn and Cu levels.Significant attenuation of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP.Significant elevation of antiapoptotic marker (Bcl-2) associated with a significant decrease in immunohistochemical expression of apoptotic marker (caspase-3) and increase in immunohistochemical expression of sertoli cell cytoskeleton (vimentin) as well.Amelioration of the histopathological changes in the testis tissue. Some recovery in spermatogenic cell distortion and Leydig cell deformation was noticeable. Thus, it can be concluded that the intake of edible wild plant extracts, particularly chicory and purslane offered a significant protection against testicular dysfunction associated with diabetes. This is through exerting free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties in addition to downregulation of inflammatory, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic markers and upregulation of antiapoptotic markers. Thus, the present study suggested the benefits of adding some wild plant extracts especially those having antioxidant effects such as chicory and purslane to minimize the adverse effects of diabetes. However, the fractionation and bioavailability of the main constituents of both chicory and purslane which are responsible for the antioxidant activity will be an important area in the future.