NRF2 Plays a Critical Role in Both Self and EGCG Protection against Diabetic Testicular Damage

Figure 1

Deletion of the Nrf2 gene completely abrogated both self and EGCG protection against diabetes-induced testicular weight loss and reduction in spermatozoa count. Diabetes was induced in 8-week-old male C57BL/6 WT and Nrf2 KO mice by streptozotocin. Blood glucose was monitored in both the (a) WT and (b) Nrf2 KO mice at the multiple time points 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks post diabetes onset. (c) Testis weight to tibia length ratio and (d) spermatozoa count were calculated at the time, 24 weeks post diabetes onset, at which the mice were killed. Data were presented as means ± SD (). versus Ctrl; ^† versus DM; ^‡ versus WT DM. WT: wild type; KO: knockout; Ctrl: control; DM: diabetes mellitus.

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