Effect of Fenugreek seed Extract (Trigonella Foenum-graecum) on testicular tissue in the embryos of Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is associated with some of the metabolic dysfunctions represented with chronic hyperglycemia. This disease can disrupt the function of testicular tissue and decline male sexual ability. Some of the medicinal herbs such as fenugreeks have protective effects on tissues via hypoglycemic and anti-oxidative properties. In the present paper, the effects of fenugreek seed extract was evaluated on testicular tissue of 20 day-old embryos from diabetic rats. In the present experimental study, sixty normal female rats were divided into three normal groups: non-diabetic control, glibenclamide and fenugreek groups and three diabetic groups: diabetic control, glibenclamide treatment and fenugreek treatment groups. Single injection of streptozotocin was used for induction of diabetes in these female rats. After detection of pregnancy, 1000 mg/kg fenugreek seed extract was fed to non-diabetic and diabetic fenugreek groups and 5 mg/kg glibenclamide was fed to non-diabetic and diabetic glibenclamide groups. Non-diabetic and diabetic control group was fed with distilled water as the same volume as the fenugreek extract. After 20 days, their embryos were pulled out and fixed at 10% formalin. After tissue processing, five micron sections were stained with Hematoxylin- eosin and evaluated for morphometric changes of testicular tissue. Data were evaluated with One-Way ANOVA test and Duncan post-hoc test. The mean diameter of seminiferous tubules and testis capsule thickness indicated no significant differences between fenugreek treatment and diabetic control groups (P> 0.05). Mean body weight of male embryos was significantly lower in fenugreek treatment group in comparison with the diabetic control group (P≤ 0.05). The leydig, sertoli and spermatogonial cells number was significantly higher in fenugreek treatment group in compression with diabetic control group (P≤ 0.05). The present study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds may increase leydig, sertoli and spermatogonial cells number in testis of diabetic rats.