Objective To explore the effects of 75 mGy irradiation on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and antioxidant capacity of serum and testis and hormone levels in male rats with diabetes mellitus(DM).Methods Rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin(STZ)to develop diabetes.The diabetic rats were irradiated with 75 mGy X-rays every other day for 4 weeks.Their survival rate and body weight were recorded 12 weeks after development of diabetes.The apeptosis percentage of germ cells was measured with flow cytometry and TUNEL method.The changes of anti-oxidation and gonadal hormone levels in serum and testis were measured with kits.Results After the rats suffered from diabetes for 12 weeks,the survival rate in DM group was 25%(6/24),100% in normal control group(16116).The survival rate in 75 mGy + DM group(9/16,56.25%)was obviously higher than that in the DM group(X2= 4.00,P < 0.05).Meanwhile,the percentage of apaptotic spermatogenic cells in the diabetic rats was significantly larger than those in the normal control and irradiation groups(F = 5.496,P < 0.05).MDA and NO levels in serum and testis of diabetic rats were higher in varying degrees than that in the normal control,while the serum and testis MDA content in the 75 mGy + DM group were lower than those in the DM group especially in the testis(F = 10.644,P < 0.01).75 mGy X-ray irradiation decreased NO content in the diabetic rats serum significantly(F = 14.379,P < 0.05)and increased NOS activity and TS,FSH level(F = 9.676,43.194 and 5.282,respectively,P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).Conclusions LDR could decrease the MDA level and NO content,and increase the antioxidant enzyme activity and TS and FSH levels in testis and serum of diabetic rats.