Gum Arabic improves the reproductive capacity through upregulation of testicular glucose transporters (GLUTs) mRNA expression in Alloxan induced diabetic rat

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder and an endemic disease of the twenty-first century. DM-induced tissue damage is associated with testicular deregulation resulting in reduction of fertility. Gum Arabic (GA) is reported to improve reproductive function. In this study, 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 20 of each): control group, diabetic group which were injected with Alloxan, and diabetic group which was given 10% GA in drinking water for 10 weeks. The effect of GA on sperm quality blood glucose, serum testosterone and 17β-estradiol levels were investigated. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities together with testis histopathological changes were measured. LDH and glucose transporters (GLUTs) genes mRNA were also evaluated. GA treatment significantly (P < 0.05) decreased food intake and blood glucose level compared to control and diabetic groups. GA Treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased semen quality and serum testosterone levels compared to control and diabetic groups. Likewise, GA treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased testicular LDH activity compared to the control group. Moreover, GA treatment significantly (P < 0.05) increased testicular GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA expression. Similarly, GA significantly (P < 0.05) increased testicular 3β-HSD and LDH mRNA expression compared to control. However, no effects were found in GLUT8 and GLUT9 mRNA expression. Diabetic rat's testis displayed obvious degeneration whereas; slight degeneration was seen in GA treated rats when compared to diabetic control group. These findings suggest that GA may improve reproductive function via enhancement of testicular GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA expression which may ameliorate diabetic fertility problems and complications.