The ameliorative effect of monotropein, astragalin, and spiraeoside on oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial signaling pathway in varicocelized rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Monotropein, astragalin, and spiraeoside (MAS) are active compounds extracted from medicinal herbs; monotropein from Morinda officinalis How (Rubiaceae), astragalin (kaempferol 3-O-glucoside) from Cuscuta chinensis Lamark (Convolvulaceae) and spiraeoside from the outer scales of Allium cepa L. (Liliceae) in a ratio of 6.69:0.41:3.61. Monotropein, astragalin, and spiraeoside are well-known antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive agents. The current investigation aims to study the molecular mechanism of varicocele-induced male infertility and the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of MAS.

METHODS:

Four groups were included: control (CTR), MAS 200 group (MAS 200 mg/kg), varicocele group (VC), and VC + MAS 200 group (MAS 200 mg/kg). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 200 mg/kg MAS or vehicle once daily for 28 days. The possible signaling mechanism and effects of MAS were measured via histological staining, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and biochemical assays.

RESULTS:

Parameters such as sperm motility and count, Johnsen's scores, spermatogenic cell density, serum testosterone, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) improved significantly in the VC + MAS 200 group compared with the VC group. MAS treatment of varicocele-induced group significantly decreased the levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as testicular interleukin-6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), ROS/RNS, and malondialdehyde (MDA). It also decreased the apoptotic index and reduced the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein levels (Grp78, p-IRE1α, and p-JNK) and apoptotic markers such as cleaved caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl2 ratio.

CONCLUSION:

This study suggests that the crosstalk between oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial pathway mediates varicocele-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. MAS promotes spermatogenesis in varicocele-induced SD rat, probably by decreasing cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) levels, regulating abnormal sex hormones, and decreasing oxidative stress, ER stress, and apoptosis.

• Authors: Keshab Kumar Karna, Bo Ram Choi, Jae Hyung You, Yu Seob Shin, Wan Shou Cui, Sung Won Lee, Ji Hoon Kim, Chul Young Kim, Hye Kyung Kim, Jong Kwan Park
• Journal: BMC complementary and alternative medicine (BMC Complement Altern Med) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 333 (Nov 26 2019) ISSN: 1472-6882 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31771569 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Iridoids
• Kaempferols
• monotropein
• Quercetin
• astragalin
• spiraeoside

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress (drug effects)
• Iridoids (pharmacology)
• Kaempferols (pharmacology)
• Male
• Mitochondria (drug effects)
• Organ Size (drug effects)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Quercetin (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Testis (chemistry, drug effects, pathology)
• Varicocele (metabolism, pathology)