Asian Journal of Immunology

Aims: The present study aimed at determining the effects of D-Ribose-L-Cysteine on lipid profile, atherogenic index, and infertility in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. 

Methods: A total of twenty-eight adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each. 1: Normal control group, 2: Diabetic control group, 3: Normal rats treated with 30 mg/kg body weight of D-Ribose-L-cysteine, 4: Diabetic rats treated with 30 mg/kg body weight of D-Ribose-L-cysteine. Group 2 and 4 were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg in 0.1 M cold citrate buffer, pH 7.5) prior to D-Ribose-L-cysteine treatment. Group 4 were subsequently administered D-Ribose-L-cysteine orally 72 hours post administration of streptozotocin, twice daily for 28 days. Parameters tested include: fasting blood and serum glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, sperm motility, morphology and count. Testosterone (TT), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were also examined.

Results: The results showed that diabetic rats showed weights loss, increased MDA, increase blood and serum glucose levels, elevated lipid profile, altered TT, FSH and LH as well as reduced sperm count, motility and morphology. These effects were ameliorated in diabetic rats treated with D-Ribose-L-cysteine.

Conclusion: Current study revealed that D-Ribose-L-Cysteine attenuates the oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats on blood glucose, lipid profile, reproductive hormone and sperm parameters.