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Metformin mitigates impaired testicular lactate transport/utilisation and improves sexual behaviour in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract Context Lactate is the preferred energy substrate for developing testicular germ cells. Diabetes is associated with impaired testicular lactate transport/utilisation, and poor sexual behaviour. Objective To examine the effects of metformin on parameters involved in testicular lactate production, transport/utilisation, and sexual behaviour in diabetic state. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and metformin-treated diabetic group (n = 6/group). Metformin (300 mg/kg b.w./day) was administrated orally for 4 weeks. Results Intra-testicular glucose and lactate levels, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased, while the mRNA transcript levels of genes responsible for testicular glucose and lactate transport/utilisation (glucose transporter 3, monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), MCT2, and LDH type C) decreased in DC group. Furthermore, penile nitric oxide increased, while cyclic guanosine monophosphate decreased, with impaired sexual behaviour in DC group. Treatment with metformin improved these parameters. Conclusions Metformin increases testicular lactate transport/utilisation and improves sexual behaviour in diabetic state.