Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes. One of its complications is male infertility and endocrine dysfunction, including abnormality of the testosterone level. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of selected lysosomal enzymes in rabbit testis. Mature male New Zealand rabbits were randomly selected into a control and the experimental groups in which diabetes was developed by the intravenous injection of alloxan. Animals were sacrifi ced and the testicles were removed during autopsy done on days 21, 42, 90 and 180. The activity of the bound and free fraction of acid phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAGL), cathepsin B, D and L, lipase, and sulphatase were determined spectrophotometrically in testicular homogenates. The activity of the bound fraction of NAGL, cathepsin and lipase was increased on day 21 of diabetes. On day 42 the activity of the bound fraction of NAGL, cathepsin B and sulphatase were signifi cantly decreased, while the activity of bound cathepsin D fraction was increased. Simultaneously, a signifi cant elevation of the free faction of acid phosphatase and cathepsin D was revealed. On day 90 a signifi cant increase of both fractions of cathepsin L was noted. No signifi cant changes of the evaluated lysosomal enzymes were found on the last day of the experiment. The obtained data suggest that diabetes mellitus alerts the activity of most studied lysosomal enzymes in rabbit testis. Such an effect may impair male fertility.
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