The possible protective role of combined vitamin C and metformin versus metformin alone on streptozotocin induced diabetes on the testis of adult male albino rat: histological, immunohistochemically and biochemical study

Streptozotocin is the standard animal model for studying the side effects of diabetes. The purpose of the current research is to analyze the therapeutic impact of Metformin versus combined Vitamin C and Metformin on Streptozotocin (STZ)-generated diabetes in rat testes regarding structure and function. Fifty adult male albino rats were classified into five groups (control, sham control, STZ-treated, Metformin-treated and combined Metformin and Vitamin C treated). Body weight changes, blood glucose, testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) serum levels were assessed. Histopathological, immune histochemical staining for Androgen receptors (AR) and Caspase-3 findings, along with measurements of tissue oxidative malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) biomarkers were subjected to histo-morphometric and statistical analysis. STZ-diabetic rats displayed body weight loss, hyperglycemia, testicular parenchyma injury with increased cellular oxidative stress parameters and lowering of serum sex hormones levels. Metformin monotherapy partially improved these changes with near normal results, which were recorded following combined Metformin and Vitamin C treatment. Antioxidants like vitamin C augment the curative actions of metformin against STZ inflected testicular injury.