Effects of Sesame Oil on the Reproductive Parameters of Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Male Rats

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of sesame oil on the reproductive parameters of diabetic male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: The adult male rats in a split plot design were divided into normal (n= 10), normal 5% (n= 5; 5% sesame oil enriched diet), diabetic (Streptozocin induced diabetes; n= 9), diabetic 5% (n= 9; 5% sesame oil enriched diet), and diabetic 10% (n= 9; 10% sesame oil enriched diet) groups. Diet supplementation continued for 56 days. Results: Sesame oil supplementation did not reduce the plasma glucose concentration of rats in the diabetic groups (p > 0.05). The total spermatogonia, spermatocytes, Leydig cells/tubule, and the germ cell to Sertoli cell ratio were lower in the diabetic rats than the normal ones (p < 0.05), and with the exception of spermatogonia counts, these values improved by the addition of sesame oil to the diet (p < 0.05). The sperm progressive motility and viability were lower in the diabetic rats (p < 0.05) and sesame oil supplementation did not improve them. Incorporation of sesame oil into the diet improved the plasma testosterone concentration of the diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In summary, sesame oil supplementation improved the reproductive parameters of diabetic rats at the levels of the testicular microstructure and function, but was not effective in protecting the epididymal sperm.