Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the protective effect of aqueous garlic extract on testicular and spermatogenic changes in glibenclamide treated diabetic male rats. Thirty matured male rats were used in this study and were assigned into five groups of six rats each. Diabetes was induced in groups 1, 2, 3, 5 but not induced in group 4. Rats in group 1 were treated with glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg) daily for 21 days. Rats in group 2 were treated with glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg) and garlic extracts (Allium sativum) at the dose of 300 mg/kg for 21 days. Rats in group 3 were untreated diabetic given distilled water. Rats in group 4 were the normal control, given distilled water. Rats in group 5 were treated with garlic (300 mg/kg) dissolved in distilled water. On day 21 post treatment, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the fasting blood sugar (FBS) level of glibenclamide treated group when compared to garlic treated group and diabetic untreated group but there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the FBS level of co-administration of glibenclamide and garlic when compared to glibenclamide alone and garlic alone. There were significant (p < 0.05) increases in testicular sperm count, epididymal sperm count and percentage sperm motility of group 2 when compared to groups 1, 3 and 5. From the above result, co-administration of glibenclamide and garlic extract produced optimum hypoglycemic activity and protective effect on testicular sperm and epididymal sperm counts, and percentage sperm motility in diabetic male rats.

Key words: Diabetes, fasting blood sugar (FBS), garlic, glibenclamide, sperm count, sperm motility.