The Effect of Orally Administered Collagen on Testosterone Hormone and Sperm Count in Streptozotocin-Applied Rats

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from impaired insulin secretion or action. Collagen, the most abundant structural protein in the body, plays a critical role in tissues such as skin, bone, cartilage, blood vessels, and testis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral collagen supplementation on serum testosterone levels and sperm count in diabetic rats. A total of 32 male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Diabetes mellitus, Diabetes mellitus+Collagen, and Collagen. Diabetes mellitus was induced via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg), while collagen peptide was administered daily by gastric gavage at a dose of 600 mg/kg for 28 days. Serum testosterone levels were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The results demonstrated a significant decrease in testosterone (p<0.05) and sperm count (p<0.001) in the Diabetes mellitus group, whereas the Diabetes mellitus+Collagen group exhibited partial improvement in both parameters. In the Collagen-only group, testosterone levels and sperm count were comparable to the Control group, indicating a limited effect of collagen under normal physiological conditions. These findings suggest that collagen may partially mitigate diabetes-induced testicular dysfunction by supporting the structural integrity of testicular tissue and promoting spermatogenesis. Overall, the results indicate that collagen supplementation could support testicular function under diabetic conditions, but further studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations are warranted to better elucidate its therapeutic potential.

Keywords

• Collagen
• Diabetes mellitus
• Rat
• Sperm
• Testosterone.

Streptozotosin Uygulanan Ratlarda Oral Yolla Verilen Kolajenin Testosteron Hormonu ve Sperm Sayısı Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

Diyabetes mellitus, insülin salgısının veya etkisinin bozulmasından kaynaklanan kronik hiperglisemi ile karakterize yaygın bir metabolik bozukluktur. Vücutta en bol bulunan yapısal protein olan kolajen, deri, kemik, kıkırdak, kan damarları ve testis gibi dokularda kritik bir rol oynar. Bu çalışma, oral kolajen takviyesinin diyabetik sıçanlarda serum testosteron düzeyleri ve sperm sayısı üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Toplam 32 erkek Wistar albino sıçan, rastgele dört gruba ayrılmıştır: Kontrol, Diyabetes mellitus, Diyabetes mellitus+Kolajen ve Kolajen. Diyabetes mellitus, tek bir intraperitoneal streptozotosin enjeksiyonu (55 mg/kg) ile indüklenmiş, kolajen peptidi ise 28 gün boyunca günlük olarak gastrik gavaj yoluyla 600 mg/kg dozunda uygulanmıştır. Serum testosteron düzeyleri ELISA yöntemi ile ölçülmüştür. Sonuçlar, Diyabetes mellitus grubunda testosteron (p<0.05) ve sperm sayısında (p<0.001) anlamlı bir azalma olduğunu göstermiştir; buna karşın Diyabetes mellitus+Kolajen grubunda her iki parametrede kısmi bir iyileşme gözlenmiştir. Sadece Kolajen verilen grupta, testosteron düzeyleri ve sperm sayısı Kontrol grubu ile karşılaştırılabilir düzeyde bulunmuş ve normal fizyolojik koşullar altında kolajenin sınırlı bir etkisi olduğu görülmüştür. Bu bulgular, kolajenin testis dokusunun yapısal bütünlüğünü destekleyerek ve spermatogenezi teşvik ederek diyabete bağlı testiküler disfonksiyonu kısmen azaltabileceğini göstermektedir. Genel olarak, sonuçlar kolajen takviyesinin diyabetik koşullar altında testis fonksiyonunu destekleyebileceğini göstermektedir; ancak terapötik potansiyelini daha iyi anlamak için daha büyük örneklem büyüklükleri ve daha uzun süreli çalışmalar gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Kolajen
• Rat
• Sperm
• Şeker hastalığı
• Testosteron.

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