Effect of telmisartan on the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase subunit p22 phagocyteoxidase and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor in the testes of type 1 diabetic rats

Objective To observe the effect of telmisartan on the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH)oxidase subunit p22phox and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor(NRF-2) in the testes of type 1 diabetic rats. To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of telmisartan on testicular tissue of type 1 diabetic rats. Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control (group NC,n=8),diabetes(group DM, n=8) and diabetes treated with telmisartan(DT,n=8). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats in group DT were given telmisartan in dose of 10 mg/kg once a day by gavage. After telmisartan treatment for 8 weeks, blood samples were collected to detect the levels of biochemical index,insulin and testosterone. The expression of testicular NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox and p47phox, NRF-2, superoxide dismutase(SOD), quinine oxidoreductase1(NQO1) and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) were assayed. One-way analysis of variance was used among multiple groups and t analysis was applied for comparison between two groups. Results The levels of blood glucose, mRNA and protein expression of testicular p22phox were significantly increased in group DM than those in group NC (27.38±0.82 vs 5.11±0.23, 0.95±0.06 vs 0.78±0.12, 1.02±0.09 vs 0.59±0.19, t= 87.434,3.020, 4.610, all P 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of testicular p47phox among three groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions Telmisartan may play a protective role on testicular tissues in type 1 diabetic rats. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 1; Oxidative stress; Testes; Telmisartan