Tungstate administration improves the sexual and reproductive function in female rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes induces great alterations in female reproductive function. We analyzed the effects of tungstate, an anti-diabetic agent, on the reproductive function of healthy and diabetic female rats.


METHODS
Healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with sodium tungstate (2 mg/ml in their drinking water) for 12 weeks. Markers of reproductive function and diabetes were measured in serum, and in uterus and ovaries by Western blot or RT-PCR. Reproductive function was also assessed by mating.


RESULTS
Diabetic rats showed great impairment of libido, which was accompanied by a total loss of fertility (P < 0.05) and a decrease in the serum levels of FSH (P < 0.05) and LH (P < 0.05) compared with healthy rats. Tungstate treatment of diabetic rats partially recovered libido while fertility rate increased to 66.6%. This improvement was accompanied by a recovery of serum FSH (to a level higher than healthy rats) and LH. Moreover, tungstate treatment normalized ovarian expression of GLUT 3 hexose transporter, and estrogen, progesterone and FSH receptors, whereas only GLUT 3 and FSH receptors were normalized in the uterus.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the alterations in female reproduction in diabetes were partially reversed after tungstate treatment by a mechanism(s) involving the normalization of serum FSH and LH levels, and ovarian and uterine expression of FSH receptors and GLUT3.
Ballester
J
J
Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
Muñoz
M C
MC
Domínguez
J
J
Palomo
M J
MJ
Rivera
M
M
Rigau
T
T
Guinovart
J J
JJ
Rodríguez-Gil
J E
JE
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013311:Streptozocin; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D011974:Receptors, LH; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D013311:Streptozocin; C025399:sodium tungstate(VI); D011972:Receptor, Insulin