Induction of diabetes decreased testicular StAR mRNA expression by 66% and MAE treatment enhanced mRNA expression to the same level of the control group. However, the expression of P540scc was not significantly decreased in the diabetic group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that MAE significantly increased Ts production in the diabetic rats, probably through the induction of StAR mRNA expression levels. Administration of MAE to

experimental models of diabetes can effectively Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical attenuate oxidative stress-mediated testosterone depletion. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Morus alba, Oxidative stress, Testosterone Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. It has been estimated that the prevalence of DM will increase from 275 million adults in 2010 to 439 million by 2030.1 It has been posited that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogeneses of DM.2 Accumulated data suggest that DM

is linked with male reproductive dysfunction.3 In rats, diabetes induces apoptosis in the testicular germ cell4 and decreases sperm count and plasma testosterone (Ts) levels.5 However, the potential contribution Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of oxidative stress due to diabetic condition in the development of testicular abnormalities has not been fully selleck clarified. It has been shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can inhibit the steroid hormone production of cultured leydig cells by directly Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical affecting the steroidogenic enzymes.6 Be that as it may, the testicular

activity of steroidogenic proteins under diabetic condition has yet to be studied. Steroid acute regulatory protein (StAR) and P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) are two important proteins that catalyze the first steps in steroidogenesis.7 Diemer et al.8 demonstrated that the in vitro exposure of MA-10 tumor leydig cells to ROS decreased StAR protein expression levels. Morus alba (mulberry) is a plant rich in phytochemicals, which have an important role in diet-based therapies to cure several diseases.9 Antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of Morus alba leaf extract (MAE) in Streptozotocin-induced Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical diabetic rats has been shown.10,11 The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the long-term administration of MAE on oxidative stress markers and steroidogenesis in diabetic rats. The likely mechanism of Metalloexopeptidase MAE action on steroidogenesis was also explored. Materials and Methods Chemicals Streptozotocin, thiobarbituric acid (TBA), 1,1,3,3-tetramethoxypropane, reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), nicotine-amid-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), glutathione reductase (GR), tripyridyl-s-triazine (TPTZ), and other high-grade chemicals were purchased from Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Preparation of Morus Alba Leaf Extract Leaves of Morus alba were collected from a local area (Shiraz, Iran) in April.