The Effects of Curcumin Nanoparticles on an Experimental Diabetes Model: Reproductive Hormones, Lipid Profile and Immunohistochemical and Immunofluorescence Markers

Abstract

Diabetes affects many organs and causes serious problems for reproductive health. There is still no effective treatment but a range of new strategies are being used to treat and to reduce the possible complications of diabetes. One of the most promising of them relies on the use of nanoparticles. We have evaluated the effects of curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles on blood glucose, lipid profile, reproductive hormones and histopathological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent parameters in experimental diabetic conditions. We created eight study groups (control group, diabetes group, curcumin group, Mg-curcumin nanoparticle group, diabetes+curcumin group, diabetes+Mg-curcumin nano- particle group, encapsulated Mg-curcumin nanoparticle group, diabetes+encapsulated Mg-curcumin nano- particle group), allocating rats to the groups at random. Triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL levels were high in the diabetes group, NOP10 and PI3K levels were intense and reproductive hormone levels were low. Curcumin and curcumin nanoformulations administered to the diabetes groups led to significant improvements in these parameters. The testosterone level, which was low in the diabetes group, increased significantly after the application of encapsulated Mg-curcumin. Curcumin nanoformulations were more effective than curcumin at countering the diabetes-impaired lipid profile and improving the levels of reproductive hormones, the histopathological findings and PI3K and NOP10 expression.