Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious and common in the world health problem that leads to different complications. Changes in oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity play an important role in the pathogenesis of DM. The purpose of this study was to investigate ellagic acid (EA) treatment in diabetes induced testicular damage. In our study, 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group 1: Control (n = 6), Group 2: EA (n = 6), Group 3: Diabet (n = 6), Group 4: Diabet + EA (n = 6). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg) to group 3 and 4. EA was given 100 mg/kg/day group 2 and 4 for 35 days by oral gavage. We used that Hematoxylen-Eosin (H&E) and Johnsen's scoring to determine histological change. The terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl-transferase mediated nick end-labeling assay (TUNEL) was used for apoptosis. Oxidative stress markers were determined by qRT-PCR and immunexpression of Nrf2 was evaluated in testicular tissue. In conclusion, EA administration on the diabetes model has changed the histopathological features, apopotosis and oxidative stress marker genes in the testis and may have an effect on the reduction of diabetes induced testicular damage.
Keywords: Nrf2; Testes; antioxidant system; diabetes mellitus; ellagic acid.