Semaglutide mitigates testicular damage in diabetes by inhibiting ferroptosis

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2024 Jun 30:715:149996. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149996. Epub 2024 Apr 24.

Abstract

Diabetes is linked to male infertility, but the mechanisms and therapeutic options remain unclear. This study investigates the effects of semaglutide on testicular function in a diabetes mouse model. Clinical data shows that diabetes affects blood glucose, lipid levels, and sperm quality. Single-cell and transcriptome analyses reveal changes in testicular tissue cell proportions and activation of ferroptosis pathways in diabetic patients/rats. In the diabetes mouse model, sperm quality decreases significantly. Treatment with semaglutide (Sem) and the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) alleviates testicular damage, as evidenced by improved lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis markers. Moreover, the diabetes-induced decrease in the TM-3 cell line's vitality, increased lipid peroxidation, ROS, ferrous ions, and mitochondrial membrane potential damage are all improved by semaglutide and ferrostatin-1 intervention. Overall, these findings highlight semaglutide's potential as a therapeutic approach for mitigating diabetes-induced testicular damage through modulation of the ferroptosis pathway.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Ferroptosis; Lipid peroxidation; Mitochondrial membrane potential; ROS; Semaglutide; Testicular damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Ferroptosis* / drug effects
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides* / pharmacology
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Rats
  • Testis* / drug effects
  • Testis* / metabolism
  • Testis* / pathology

Substances

  • Glucagon-Like Peptides
  • semaglutide