Kelulut honey supplementation prevents sperm and testicular oxidative damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

Previous studies found that Kelulut Honey produced by Trigona spp. bees is able to prevent oxidative damage in various pathological conditions. Thus, the present study aimed to determine whether Kelulut Honey could prevent the sperm and testicular damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Non-Diabetic (NDM), Non-Diabetic with Kelulut Honey supplementation (NDMKH), Diabetic without supplementation (DM) and Diabetic with Kelulut Honey supplementation (DMKH). Kelulut honey was given at the dose of 2.0 g/kg weight daily via gavage for 28 consecutive days. Results showed that sperm quality produced by diabetic rats supplemented with Kelulut honey significantly improved compared to the diabetic control groups (p<0.05). SOD activity and GSH level increased significantly (p<0.05) whereas PC and MDA levels significantly decreased in sperm and testis of DMKH rats when compared to DM rats (p<0.05). Histological observation showed obvious increase in spermatozoa in the lumen of epididymis and increased spermatogenic cells density in the testis of DMKH group. In conclusion, Kelulut Honey has a potential in preventing the damage of sperm and testis in diabetic rats.