The Combined Therapy of Insulin and Zinc Improves Glucose Uptake and Utilization by Testicular Cells in Diabetic Rats

Glucose uptake by the Sertoli cells of the testes is essential for spermatogenesis. Diabetes mellitus (DM) alters the uptake and utilization of glucose by the testicular cells. This manifests as one of the causes of male subfertility/infertility in diabetes mellitus. With onset of complications even before diagnosis, especially in developing countries, there may be need for therapy beyond the standard therapy. Five normal and twenty diabetic male rats were assigned into groups as follows; normal control had five normal rats with access to food and water only. DM group had five diabetic rats with no treatment. DM and insulin group had five diabetic rats and given subcutaneous insulin twice daily. DM and zinc group had five diabetic rats and given 10mg/kg oral zinc. The final group had five diabetic rats and given both insulin and zinc as above. Treatments in all cases only commenced after fourteen days. Testes were harvested after ten days of treatment for assay. DM decreased both glucose and lactate in the testes. Insulin and zinc improved the uptake of glucose and its utilization as evident in increased production of lactate.