Biochemical, Hormonal and Histological Changes in Prostate of Wistar Rats Following Long Term Streptozotocin-induced Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia and endocrine disorder. Diabetes mellitus is knownto promote male infertility by affecting sperm quality through altered steroidogenesis. The role of prostatic fluid in maintenance of sperm quality have been established. However, the effect of DM on prostate health is poorly understood.This study was designed to investigate the biochemical, hormonal and histological changes in prostate of male Wistar ratsafter 3- and 5-months DM. Twenty-six adult male Wistar rats were assigned into three groups. Group I (non-diabetic rats)served as control (n=10), out of which five rats (n=5) were sacrificed as control for 3-month study and the remaining animals(n=5) as control for 5-month study. Group II served as 3-month DM (n=8) and group III served as 5-month DM (n=8).Diabetes mellitus was induced by administration of a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg i.p.). Rats were sacrificedat 3- and 5- months after DM. Biochemical indices in serum and prostate, histological and immunohistochemical studies ofthe prostate were evaluated. Results indicated that the weight of prostate of 3- and 5-months DM rats significantly (p<0.05)decreased by 33% and 59%, respectively. Fasting blood glucose, plasma glycated haemoglobin and number ofmicronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow significantly (p<0.05) increased in 3- and 5-months DM.Activities of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases significantly (p<0.05) increased in 3 months DM withconcomitant increase in serum total bilirubin and urea in both models. The activities of total acid phosphatase in 3- and 5-months DM decreased by 34% and 76%, respectively while prostatic acid phosphatase decreased by 48% in 5-months DM.Prostatic zinc and bicarbonate increased in 3-months DM by 1.7 and 1.9 folds, and in 5-months DM by 5.8 and 1.7 folds,respectively. The levels of serum luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones and testosterone decreased in both models.Prostatic lipid peroxidation increased while activities of antioxidative enzymes decreased in both models. Histology revealedhyperplasia, intra-luminal budding of epithelia, mild expressions of Bcl2 and Ki67 in 3- and 5-months DM. Overall, prostate health was compromised and may increase infertility in diabetic animals.