Zhihui Jiang1, Jian Wang2, Xinping Li3, Xiaoying Zhang4. 1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, Qinling-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C.I.C., College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China. 2. Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, Qinling-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C.I.C., College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China. 3. College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. 4. College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, Qinling-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C.I.C., College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China. Electronic address: zhang.xy@nwsuaf.edu.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Male infertility has been increasing over the last decades and being a pressing health problem nowadays. Cistanche tubulosa (CT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to boost male sexual function. Echinacoside (ECH) is one of the major compounds exist in CT and might be a potential agent to protect testis and sperm injury. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of CT and ECH against testicular and sperm toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT was identified by 5.8s gene sequencing. The major compositions (echinacoside and acteoside) of CT were quantified by HPLC method. The adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to BPA, CT or ECH for 42 consecutive days. The sperm parameters were observed by dark-field microscope; serum hormone levels (FSH, LH and testosterone) were tested by radio immunosorbent; LDH-x activity were evaluated using commercial kits; the expressions of the key steroidogenic enzymes were evaluated by qRT-PCR, heat map, immunofluorescence and western blot. RESULTS: The CT and ECH treatments against BPA-induced testicular and sperm toxicity showed that CT and ECH have reversed BPA-induced abnormality in sperm characteristics, testicular structure and normalized serum testosterone. This was concomitant with the increased expression of LDH-x as well as the key steroidogenic enzymes including StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD and CYP17A1, suggesting that CT and ECH enhanced testosterone biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: CT and ECH attenuated poor sperm quality and testicular toxicity in rats through up-regulation steroidogenesis enzymes and ECH is the active compound of CT as a potential natural reproductive agent.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Male infertility has been increasing over the last decades and being a pressing health problem nowadays. Cistanche tubulosa (CT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to boost male sexual function. Echinacoside (ECH) is one of the major compounds exist in CT and might be a potential agent to protect testis and sperm injury. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of CT and ECH against testicular and sperm toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT was identified by 5.8s gene sequencing. The major compositions (echinacoside and acteoside) of CT were quantified by HPLC method. The adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to BPA, CT or ECH for 42 consecutive days. The sperm parameters were observed by dark-field microscope; serum hormone levels (FSH, LH and testosterone) were tested by radio immunosorbent; LDH-x activity were evaluated using commercial kits; the expressions of the key steroidogenic enzymes were evaluated by qRT-PCR, heat map, immunofluorescence and western blot. RESULTS: The CT and ECH treatments against BPA-induced testicular and sperm toxicity showed that CT and ECH have reversed BPA-induced abnormality in sperm characteristics, testicular structure and normalized serum testosterone. This was concomitant with the increased expression of LDH-x as well as the key steroidogenic enzymes including StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD and CYP17A1, suggesting that CT and ECH enhanced testosterone biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: CT and ECH attenuated poor sperm quality and testicular toxicity in rats through up-regulation steroidogenesis enzymes and ECH is the active compound of CT as a potential natural reproductive agent.
Authors: P C Agu; P M Aja; Ezebuilo Ekpono Ugbala; H A Ogwoni; E M Ezeh; P C Oscar-Amobi; Agbor Asuk Atamgba; O G Ani; J N Awoke; F E Nwite; O U Ukachi; O U Orji; P C Nweke; Ejike Ekpono Ugbala; G O Ewa; I O Igwenyi; C O Egwu; E U Alum; D C Chukwu; A C Famurewa Journal: Heliyon Date: 2022-03-24