Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) ›› 2021, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (6): 1429-1436.doi: 10.13481/j.1671-587X.20210612

• Research in basic medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Improvement effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on reproductive function injury induced by dibutyl phthalate in mice and its mechanism

Xiaolei XU1,Yukun YANG1,Zhongming LI1,Xinyue LI1,Ying WANG1,Jie SHENG1,Jing ZHANG2,Xiuling SUN2,Hongyan WANG2,Li QU2,Huan LI2()   

  1. 1.Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene,School of Public Health,Beihua University,Jilin 132001,China
    2.Department of Environmental Hygiene,School of Public Health,Beihua University,Jilin 132001,China
  • Received:2021-05-24 Online:2021-11-28 Published:2021-12-14
  • Contact: Huan LI E-mail:326002885@qq.com

Abstract: Objective

To investigate the protective effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on spermatogenesis in the male mice with reproductive function injury induced by dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and to elucidate its mechanism.

Methods

Thirty 6-week-old clean grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, DBP group(given 400 mg·kg-1 DBP) and DBP+Rg3 group (given 400 mg·kg-1 DBP and 20 mg·kg-1 Rg3) and there were 10 mice in each group. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed and the sperm quality was analyzed. The pathomorphology of testis tissue of the mice in various groups were observed by HE staining. The expression of gap junction connexin 43(Cx43) protein in testis tissue of the mice in various groups was observed by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of Src, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K) and protein kinase B(Akt) mRNA in testis tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by Real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR). Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated Src(p-Src), phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) proteins in testis tissue of the mice in various groups.

Result

Compared with control group, the sperm density and sperm motility of the mice in DBP group were significantly decreased (P<0.01);compared with DBP group, the sperm density and sperm motility of the mice in DBP+Rg3 group were significantly increased (P<0.01). The HE staining results showed that compared with DBP group,the histopathological injury of testis tissue of the mice in ginsenoside Rg3 group was improved. The immunohistochemical analysis results showed that the expression amont of Cx43 protein in testis tissue of the mice in DBP group was lower than that in control group; compared with DBP group, the expression amount of Cx43 protein in testis tissue of the mice in DBP+Rg3 group was increased.The RT- qPCR results showed that compared with control group, the expression levels of Src, PI3K and Akt mRNA in testis tissue of the mice in DBP group were decreased (P<0.01); compared with DBP group, the expression levels of Src, PI3K and Akt mRNA in testis tissue of the mice in DBP+ Rg3 group were increased (P<0.01).The Western blotting detection results showed that compared with control group,the expressions levels of p-Src,p-PI3K,and p-Akt proteins in testis tissue of the mice in DBP group were decreased (P<0.01);compared with DBP group,the expressions levels of p-Src,p-PI3K,and p-Akt proteins in testis tissue of the mice in DBP+Rg3 group were increased (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Ginsenoside Rg3 can improve the DBP-induced reproductive function injury in the mice, and the mechanism may be that Rg3 can up-regulate the expression of Cx43 by activating the Src/PI3K/Akt pathway, reduces the permeability of blood-testosterone barrier induced by DBP exposure, and plays a protective role in the spermatogenic injury.

Key words: ginsenoside Rg3, spermatogenesis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase B, dinbutyl phthalate

CLC Number: 

  • R932