Effect of Diabetes Mellitus on Male Reproductive Hormone of Diabetic Patients Attending Urology Unit of Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Background: Diabetes is a set of metabolic abnormalities typified by hyperglycemia believed to be associated with aberrant insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Erectile dysfunction and infertility are globally prevalent complications among male diabetic patients. There is a need to understand the role of a male reproductive hormone in the etiology of infertility in diabetic patients. Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on the Male reproductive hormone (testosterone) on diabetic patients attending the Urology unit of Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria and the effect of industrial sugar consumption in rats model. Materials and Methods: 30 samples (including repeats, n = 3) were collected from known diabetic patients and 30 (including repeats, n = 3) control-non diabetic healthy individuals. Five millilitres (5 ml) of blood was collected from the antecubital vein of each participant and placed into a plain container for serum testosterone measurement using the enzyme-linked immunoassay technique. Blood was also collected from the same subjects in a fluoride oxalate container for plasma enzymatic glucose estimation using a Randox Glucose oxidase kit. For in vivo rat model, the albino rats were grouped into 2 of five (5) rats. The control group (1) was only given normal rat food and water while the test group (2) was treated with 0.4 g of industrial sugar/mL/body weight in addition to rat food and water via oral intubation for 21 days. Blood samples were collected via ocular puncture into plain tubes for testosterone measurement as described above. Results: There is a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the glucose level of diabetic subjects compared to the control non-diabetic groups. Interestingly, the diabetic individuals have decreased levels of testosterone compared to the control (p < 0.05). The same was observed in rats treated with industrial sugar. Conclusion: In conclusion, data available from this study suggests that increased plasma glucose levels and excessive industrial sugar consumption are associated with decreased testosterone levels in both human and animal models respectively. The mechanism is yet unclear but it could be that DM alters conventional sperm parameters, spermatogenesis, and biosynthesis of testosterone and induces degenerative changes in the testis and epididymis and ejaculatory dysfunction. These mechanisms need to be investigated.
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