White tea consumption restores sperm quality in prediabetic rats preventing testicular oxidative damage.
Prediabetes represents a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It encompasses some, but not all, T2DM diagnostic criteria. Prediabetes has been recently associated with altered testicular function and increased testicular oxidative stress (OS). Tea is widely consumed and its anti-hyperglycaemic/antioxidant properties are known. This study aimed to evaluate whether white tea (WTEA) consumption by prediabetic rats could prevent testicular OS, preserving sperm quality. For that purpose, WTEA (presenting a high catechin content) was given to 30-day-old streptozotocin-induced prediabetic rats for 2 months. Testicular antioxidant potential and OS were evaluated, as well as sperm parameters, by standard techniques. WTEA consumption improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in prediabetic rats. Testicular antioxidant potential was increased by WTEA consumption, restoring protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, although glutathione content and redox state were not altered. WTEA consumption improved sperm concentration and sperm quality (motility, viability and abnormality) was restored. Overall, WTEA consumption improved reproductive health of male prediabetic rats. Based on the study results, WTEA consumption appears to be a natural, economical and effective strategy to counteract the deleterious effects of prediabetes on male reproductive health, but further studies will be needed before a definitive recommendation is made.
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) and Unit for Multidisciplinary Investigation in Biomedicine (UMIB), University of Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: pfobox@gmail.com.
Pedro F
PF
Oliveira
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
Gonçalo D
GD
Tomás
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
Tânia R
TR
Dias
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) and Unit for Multidisciplinary Investigation in Biomedicine (UMIB), University of Porto, Portugal.
Ana D
AD
Martins
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
Luís
L
Rato
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
Marco G
MG
Alves
CICS - UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: bmcms@ubi.pt.
Branca M
BM
Silva
D000818:Animals; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D064209:Phytochemicals; D013662:Tea; D005978:Glutathione
diabetes mellitus; male fertility; oxidative stress; sperm quality; white tea