This investigation reports the effects of diabetes mellitus
on some aspects of the male reproductive system. When
compared to non-diabetic controls, human diabetics indicated
a 35% reduction in gross sperm motility, a 13% decrease in
progressive sperm motility and a 49% reduction in rapid
sperm motility. Sperm viability also decreased by 35% in
this group. Semen carnitine and acid phosphatase levels were
elevated by 47% and 13% respectively, whilst the circulating
testosterone level decreased by 20%. Semen pH and volume,
sperm concentration and sperm morphology did not differ
significantly between the diabetic and non-diabetic control
patients. Circulating LH, FSH and prolactin, as well as
seminal zinc, fructose and citric acid levels were found to
be similar in the two groups.
In a human infertility group, the number of morphologically
normal sperm was 46% lower in comparison to the control
group. Gross sperm motility decreased by 21%, progressive
motility by 11% and sperm viability by 9%. Carnitine
concentration in semen was 38% higher and fructose levels
27% lower than that of the control group. There were also
significant reductions in circulating testosterone and LH
levels (16% and 28% respectively). other parameters
investigated, but which were not significantly different
from the control, were semen pH and volume, sperm
concentration, seminal zinc, acid phosphatase and citric
acid concentrations, and circulating FSH and prolactin
levels.
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats maintained on insulin
for 90 days, were also assessed for testicular function.
Extracts from the cauda epididymis indicated a 39% decrease
in sperm motility and a 19% reduction in viability. Unlike
the human diabetics, a 59% reduction in sperm number per
cauda was also noted, together with an 86% rise in
morphologically abnormal sperm. Measurements of the
accessory organ weights indicated a 44% loss in prostate
weight only. The testicular weight and testicular cell size
and number did not differ significantly between the two
groups. Circulating testosterone levels also remained
unchanged. Reduced fecundity in these animals was displayed
by the reduction in the number of pups sired.
Collectively these results indicate that diabetes adversely
affects the male reproductive system. The profile of the
human diabetes group was similar to that of a group of
infertile males, indicating a severe loss in reproductive
potential in these patients. The results obtained from the
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats complimented the
investigation on human diabetics. The animal studies further
indicated reduced fecundity and a compromised accessory
organ function, as suggested by the weight loss of these
organs. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1990.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/5805 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Creators | Pillay, Veniela. |
| Contributors | Vawda, A. I. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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