Background & Aims: 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.