Objective:

2

To determine the possible protective effects of Jinghuosu

a dietary supplement (DS)

on tripterygium glycosides (TG)-induced reproductive system injury in rats and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods:

2

A reproductive damage model was established in rats by feeding of TGs. Twenty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table (

n

=7 in each): control (C) group

model (M) group

DS group and L-carnitine (LC) group. Rats in M

DS and LC groups received 40 mg/kg TGs orally. Starting from the 5th week

after administration of TGs for 4 h every day

rats in DS and LC groups were administered with 2.7 g/kg DS and 0.21 g/kg LC

respectively

for protective treatment over the next 4 weeks. Rats in Group C continued to receive the control treatment. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used for histopathological analysis of rat testicular tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

lactate dehydrogenase

alcohol dehydrogenase

total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC)

superoxide dismutase

glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)

and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Chemiluminescence assay was used to determine the serum testosterone content. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were conducted to analyze the expression of genes and proteins related to the testosterone synthesis pathway and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 antioxidant pathway.

Results:

2

Oral administration of TGs induced significant increases in the testicular levels of zinc transporter 1 and MDA (

P

<

0.05). On the other hand

sperm concentration

sperm motility

and serum testosterone

serum zinc

testicular zinc

Zrt-

Irt-like protein 1

ALP

luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor

steroidogenic acute regulatory protein

Cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1

3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase1

T-AOC

GSH-Px

nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2

heme oxygenase-1 and NAD (P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 levels decreased following TGs exposure (

P

<

0.05). All of these phenotypes were evidently reversed by DS (

P

<

0.05).

Conclusion:

2

DS Jinghuosu protects against TG-induced reproductive system injury in rats

probably by improving zinc homeostasis

enhancing the testosterone synthesis and attenuating oxidative stress.