MORPHOMETRIC AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF OOCYTE MATURATION AND QUALITY OF DIABETIC MICE FOLLOWING ALOE VERA ADMINISTRATION

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease which causes congenital anomalies and
misabortion in females. Decrease in follicle growth and maturation and quality of oocytes occur in type
1 diabetes. The antidiabetic effect of Aloe vera is reported by several investigators. In this study, the
effects of Aloe vera gel on diabetic mice oocyte were examined.
Materials & Methods: First, 25 mice were randomly divided into five groups including: control group
(normal saline), Aloe vera group (350 mg/kg/day, by gavage), diabetic group (single dose of 190 mg/kg
streptozotocin, IP), diabetic receiving Aloe vera (350 mg/kg/day, by gavage), and diabetic receiving
insulin (1 IU/day, SC). All animals were superovulated after 3 weeks. Ovulated oocytes were collected
from oviduct. Oocyte nuclear maturation and mitochondrial redistribution were investigated by
microscopy and immunocytochemical methods.
Results: Diabetes led to a significant increase in spindle defects, chromosome misalignmentm, and
mitochondrial redistribution changes (P˂0.05). Aloe vera and insulin administration decreased these
defects significantly (P˂0.05). Maturation rate decreased in diabetic mice, but Aloe vera and insulin
administration prevented the decrease significantly (P˂0.05).
Conclusion: The results show that diabetes damages oocyte maturation process and reduces maturation
rate and oocyte quality which can cause infertility or subfertility, but Aloe vera administration reduced
these defects significantly.