Dimethyl itaconate mitigates diabetes-induced germ cell damage in rats by modulating p-NF-κB p65, Nrf2, DNA damage and restoration of antioxidant levels.

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM), an autoimmune disease, is the result of damage to pancreatic beta cells, and causes prolonged hyperglycaemia. In males, diabetic hyperglycaemia can perturb sperm morphology and motility, reduce semen volume, and lower fertility. We have investigated the protective effects of dimethyl itaconate (DMI) on diabetes-induced germ cell damage in male SD rats. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin and animals with blood glucose levels ≥ 250 mg/dL were included in the study. DMI was administered orally for four weeks. Testicular damage was evaluated by examining morphology, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormonal levels. Diabetes increased oxidative stress (elevated MDA, reduced GSH levels), decreased sperm count and motility, and increased abnormal sperm morphology and fragmented sperm DNA. It also altered the expressions of key proteins in rat testes, including increased 8-OHdG, Caspase-3, p-NF-κB p65 and IL-6, and decreased 3β-HSD, Nrf2, HO-1 and SOD-1. DMI treatment significantly ameliorated these effects, demonstrating its protective role against diabetes-induced germ cell damage in rats.