Protective Effects Of Puerarin On Acute Injury Of Sertoli Cells Of Testis In Mice

Research background and objective:The recent clinical data has proved that excessive radiation will damage various systems of man, especially the gonadal tissues. Researchers had worked for a long time to find anti-radiation drug.In recent years,the research of pharmacological function of Chinese herbal medicine has been developed deeply, especially those with antioxidant effects,and can enhance immunity and hematopoietic function. But function have not been researched further. Puerarin is the main component of our traditional Chinese medicine, kudzu root tuber, In recent years, with in-depth study of puerarin, it has remarkable effect on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.In addition, puerarin have a role of antioxidation, scavenging free radicals. This article aims to investigate the protective effects of Puerarin on acute injury of Sertoli Cells of testis in miceMethods:Forty male KM mice were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the low dose puerarin group, and the high dose puerarin group, respectively,10 in each. The lower abdomen and scrotal area of mice were irradiated with a single dose of 8 Gy 60Co-γray for 517 s in the model and two puerarin groups. Twenty-four h after modeling, different concentrations of puerarin (at the daily dose of 230 and 450 mg/kg respectively) was given to mice in the low and high dose groups by gastrogavage, once daily for two successive weeks. Equal volume of physiological saline was give to mice in the normal group and the model group, once daily for two successive weeks. The morphology of the testicular tissues was observed. The levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and inhibinβwere determined by ELISA. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), mal-ondialdehyde (MDA) by ELISA. The relative expressions of Inhibinp mRNA in the testicular tissues were determined by Real-time PCR.Results:Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells were injured at different degrees in the model group. They were improved in the low and high puerarin dose groups, more obviously in the high dose puerarin group. Compared with the normal group, the level of serum FSH、MDA in the model group was significantly improved, while the level of SOD、GSH、Inhibinβand the expression of Inhibin P mRNA obviously decreased, showing statistical difference (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum FSH, Inhibinβ, SOD、GSH and the expression of InhibinβmRNA were significantly improved in the low and high dose puerarin groups (P<0.05), more obviously in the high dose puerarin group (P<0.01, P<0.05).Conclusion:Chinese medicine monomer of puerarin had certain protective effects on 60Co-y-induced acute injury of Stetoli cells in mice,and its mechanisms of protection is directly linked to scavenge oxygen free radicals, and its effect as a dose-dependent.