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Co-administration of Selenium Nanoparticles and Metformin Abrogate Testicular Oxidative Injury by Suppressing Redox Imbalance, Augmenting Sperm Quality and Nrf2 Protein Expression in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

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Abstract

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and metformin (Met) elicit individually protective effects against testicular oxidative injury in diabetic rats. However, the combined effects of both compounds have not been investigated. We investigated the effects of SeNPs and Met individual/co-treatment on testicular oxidative injury in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ-40 mg/kg bwt). The rats were equally divided into 6 groups: Group one—non-diabetic; group two—diabetic untreated; and group six—non-diabetic received citrate buffer (2 mL/kg bwt), while group three, four, and five received SeNPs (0.1 mg/kg bwt), Met (50 mg/kg bwt), and SeNPs/Met combined respectively, for 42 days. Results revealed that SeNPs, as well as Met treatment significantly (p < 0.001), lowered blood glucose levels and improved relative organ weights in treated rats than those of the untreated group. Moreover, a synergistic effect was observed in the co-administration group. Additionally, combined treatment elicited better effect, in augmenting the pituitary and testicular hormone (LH, FSH, prolactin, and testosterone) levels, marker enzymes/protein associated with steroidogenesis (3-βHSD, 17-βHSD, and StAR protein), and sperm functional parameters than those of individual treatment groups, when compared with control. Furthermore, the combinatorial effects of SeNPs and Met surpassed their influence in attenuating testicular oxidative stress/inflammation and upregulation of Nrf2 protein expression in diabetic rats when compared with control. Overall, normal rats, co-treated with SeNPs and Met, did not reveal any deleterious effect. Therefore, SeNPs and Met combined treatment may better improve testes function in diabetic conditions than an individual regimen.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Professor Cornelia M. Keck (Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Philipps University of Marburg, 35037, Marburg, Germany), for giving us the opportunity to work in her laboratory for the nanoparticle production of selenium.

Funding

This research was supported by the TWAS-DFG 2017 cooperation visit grant awarded to Azubuike P. Ebokaiwe, and AE-FUNAI Institutional Based research grant Awarded to Azubuike P. Ebokaiwe with grant code FUNAI/FST/14/B2/022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, PMB 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    Azubuike P. Ebokaiwe, Ebuka E. David, Chukwuma J. Chukwu & Richard C. Ehiri

  2. Department of Anatomy, Cross River University of Technology, Cross River State, Okuku, Nigeria

    Kebe E. Obeten & Stephen O. Okori

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Benein, Benin City, Nigeria

    Olasehinde Olusanya

  4. Department of Biology/Microbiology/Biotechnology, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria

    Nworie Okoro

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  1. Azubuike P. Ebokaiwe
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  2. Kebe E. Obeten
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  3. Stephen O. Okori
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  4. Ebuka E. David
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  5. Olasehinde Olusanya
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  6. Chukwuma J. Chukwu
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  7. Nworie Okoro
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  8. Richard C. Ehiri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Azubuike P. Ebokaiwe.

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Male adult Wister rats (180 g ± 5 g) were nurtured at the Animal House, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Nigeria, and used for this study. Handling of animals was conducted with humane care according to the criteria outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as prepared by the US National Academy of Science (NAS) and published by the US National Institute of Health. Experiments were performed following the US NAS guidelines and with the approval of the relevant Institutional Committee.

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Ebokaiwe, A.P., Obeten, K.E., Okori, S.O. et al. Co-administration of Selenium Nanoparticles and Metformin Abrogate Testicular Oxidative Injury by Suppressing Redox Imbalance, Augmenting Sperm Quality and Nrf2 Protein Expression in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 198, 544–556 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02082-2

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