P-98: Ultrastructural Study of Basement Membrane of Seminiferous Tubules in Adult Diabetic Rats with Spermatogenic Alterations

Background: The complications of diabetes are the major problems that occur in diabetic patients. It has been reported that, insulin insufficiency and the impairment of regulatory action of this hormone on Leydig and Sertoli cells have an important role in testicular alterations. Testicular disorders and change in normal spermatogenesis is one of the consequences of diabetes. This study was designed to find the relationship between structural alterations of basement membrane of seminiferous tubules and impairment of normal spermatogenesis. Materials and Methods: Induction of experimental diabetes was done by intraperitoneal administration of Streptozotocin (45 mg/kg BW). In control group, sodium citrate was administrated with the same volume of Streptozotocin. At the end of 70 days, the animals were scarified; the testicles were separated and processed for electron microscopic studies. Results: Ultrastructural studies showed that the thickness of basement membrane of seminiferous tubules was increased in diabetic group in comparison to control rats. Moreover, the amount of collagen fibers increased between basement membrane and myocytes in diabetic group. These morphologic changes, was observed more in basal compartment of Sertoli cells compared to other areas of seminiferous tubules. Conclusion: The results study showed that, the structural changes of basement membrane of testicular seminiferous tubules in chronic diabetes, lead to alteration in normal spermatogenesis by affecting the activity of Sertoli cells and transport of Materialss.