Protective effect of camel milk on genetic and histopathological changes retated to fertility and vision in diabetic wistar rats

Abstract

Diabetes is a serious disease affects human health. Diabetes in advanced stages is accompanied by weakness in fertility and vision, general weakness, and alteration in fats and carbohydrates metabolism. Recently there are some scientific trends about the usage of camel milk (CM) in the treatment of diabetes or its associated alterations. Camel milk contains vital active material with insulin like action and reduce the complications associated with diabetes incidence (weakness in fertility and vision), but how these effects occur, still unclear and this is the aim of this study. 60 male rats were divided into four groups (15 rats per group), a control group (CNT); camel milk group (CM); diabetic group (D) and diabetic group supplemented with camel milk (D+CM). Rats were supplemented with camel milk for 4 consecutive months. At the end of the experiment design, rats were killed and blood was extracted for chemical analysis. Tissue samples from testis and eye were collected for RNA extraction, tissue histopathology and electron microscope. Tissues from liver and epididymal adipose tissue were taken for changes in gene expression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Sperms were harvested from epididymis for spermogram. Results showed that induction of diabetes in rats for 4 months induced oligospermia, decrease in sperm live percent, weak motility and increase in sperm abnormalities. Also, diabetes induced alterations in kidney and liver functions, disruption in antioxidants levels and oxidative stress markers (MDA). Moreover a decrease in insulin, leptin, lipid profiles, reduced sex hormone level (testosterone) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Supplementation of CM to diabetic rats significantly reduced and ameliorated the damage and all alterations associated with the diabetes occurrence. At the genetic level, diabetes down-regulated gene expression of the genes associated with steroidogenesis such as steroid acute regulatory protein (StAR), Androgen Binding Protein (ABR), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β- -HSD, cytochrome P450scc, P450c17, androgen receptor (AR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR). The results showed effective therapeutic role for camel milk in improvement the gene expression of altered genes using the semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, the occurrence of diabetes altered the expression of all examined aquaporins (AQPs). Aquaporins are genes found in the retina and cornea of the eye. AQPs play critical roles in controlling the water content in the eye. Diabetic rats showed alterations in AQPs expression that are ameliorated by CM. Moreover, genes of polyol pathway that affect level of glucose in the eye and change it to sorbitol to maintain good vision are normalized by CM. In parallel, the genetic changes of carbohydrates and lipids in liver and fat were affected by diabetes incidence and were ameliorated by camel milk supplementation. Finally, in testis the histopathology showed degenerated spermatogenic cells with odema and degranulation in the cytoplasm, while, in electron microscopy of diabetic rats supplemented with CM showed the ultrastructure of the spermatogenic cells that retained its fine structure. In eyes, the cornea of diabetic rats showed cytoplasm sparsely degranulation and vacuolation of some cells. The collagen bundles of the stroma showed irregular arrangement. In retina retinal ganglionic cells showed congestion in the retinal blood vessels and detachment of some ganglionic cells. The corneal inner epithelium in diabetic treated rats showed minor regeneration while the stromal collagen fibrills showed progressed regeneration. In retina CM in diabetic rats showed progressed regeneration in stromal collagen fibrills compared to the diabetic group. In conclusion, CM is good as a protective supplement that ameliorates the changes in testis and eye that are associated with diabetes incidence.