Title:Marine Food Protection in Testicular Damages Caused by Diabetes Mellitus
Volume: 13
Issue: 6
Author(s): Vitor Caiaffo*, Belisa Duarte Ribeiro de Oliveira, Fabricio Bezerra de Sa, Joaqvim Evencio Neto and Voldemiro Amaro da Silva Junior
Affiliation:
- Centro Academico do Agreste, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco UFPE, Caruaru, Pernambuco,Brazil
Keywords:
Apoptosis, diabetes, histomorphometry, oxidative stress, seafood, testicles.
Abstract: Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic hyperglycemic condition with major
health concern on a global scale. DM is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder stemming from defective
insulin secretion and/or resistance to action of insulin. Diabetes is recognized cause of male sexual
dysfunction and affects reproductive function in humans and animal models, including the endocrine
control of spermatogenesis, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorder. Testicular disorder is characteristically
marked by reductions of testicle weight, sperm count and motility, as well as changes in
the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium. Altered testosterone level is another characteristic of
diabetic animals. Studies have demonstrated that DM increases apoptosis in germ cells and lead to the
interruption of spermatogenesis, mainly by exerting an influence on Bcl-2 protein and cysteinedependent
aspartate-directed proteases. DM also increases oxidative stress in testicular cells and excessive
production of radical oxygen species has been demonstrated. Several strategies can be used as
means of prevention and/or treatment for diverse types of damage to testicles by DM such as regular
physical exercise, stress reduction and food intake of substances with antioxidant potential. A hypoglycemic
and antioxidant potential diet, in particular, the seafood, can be a valuable instrument of
guard against damage caused by DM, both the systemic level as testicular level. The objective of this
review is to summarize evidences that study the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis role
of seafood in testicles morphology damages induced by diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion: The seafood plays an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis role in testicles
morphology damages induced by diabetes mellitus. This relation seems to be associated with Omega-3
and carotenoids (astaxanthin) levels.