Introduction: High fructose diet is an important factor that causes insulin resistance and leads to damage of the testicles and infertility. Moringa oleifera leaves used for medicinal purposes can improve testicular damage induced by high fructose diet.
Aim of the Work: To examine the effects of a high-fructose diet (HFD) on testicular structures and to evaluate the potential role of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on serum level of insulin, glucose and testosterone with subsequent effect on histological structure of the testes of adult albino rats.
Materials and Methods: The animals were divided into group I (fed standard diet), group II (fed a 60 g/100 g of high-fructose diet) and group III (HFD group treated with Moringa 300 mg/kg per day). Paraffin sections were stained by H&E and PAS and examined by light microscope. In addition, ultra-thin sections and semi-thin sections stained with toluidine blue were examined by electron and light microscope. The results were statistically analyzed.
Results: In HFD, a significant decrease in the level of testosterone and an increase in the level of insulin and glucose in the blood were detected. Also, a significant decrease in the weight of testes and diameter of the seminiferous tubule was recorded. The histological structure showed vacuolations of epithelial lining the seminiferous tubules &exfoliation of germinal cells inside the lumen of tubule. Interstitial cells of Leydig had numerous autophagic vacuoles and electron dense bodies in their cytoplasm. There was a significant decrease in the PAS positive reaction in the tubules and interstitium. Administration of Moringa extract, significantly lowered elevated insulin level and glucose levels. Sertoli cells and germinal epithelium cells showed moderate recovery.
Conclusion: Moringa leaf extract can attenuate testicular toxicity induced by high fructose diet. Therefore, we recommend using Moringa leaves, especially for patients with insulin resistance resulting from excessive fructose use.