Research On The Toxicity Mechanism Of Solanine On Cells Of Mice Testis

Solanine is one of chemicalcomponents in the solanaceae plants just like potato, tomato, aubergine which is toxic to human. Solanine is toxic to human, and its negative effects have been reported in central toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and teratogenicity to the mouse embryo. Also, it was shown that Solanine could damage testis by inducing sperm malformation in mice. However, currently, very limited information is known about toxic mechanism of Solanine on the testis. In present study, the toxicity of Solanine on male reproductive function was investigated in adult male Kunming mice. Solanine were intraperitoneal injected to doses of 1/8LD50: 5.25mg/kg; 1/4LD50: 10.5mg/kg; 1/2LD50: 21mg/kg and a separate negative control group (saline group), which is injected normal saline equivalent. Solanine continuously exposed to different concentrations for 14 days.The results of testicular histological observation and organ coefficient showed an obvious pathological change in testis at 1/2LD50 group and as the dose of Solanine increasing, there was a significant dose- and duration-dependent reduction in the testicular weight and organ coefficient. The highest dose of Solanine (1/2LD50 group) produced histological alterations that included severe degenerative changes. Seminiferous tubules exhibited disintegration of germinal epithelium, detachment and degenerative changes of lining cells, reduction in the number of round spermatids, defoliation of spermatozoa from Sertoli cells, significant failure of their maturation to mature spermatids and therefore almost absence of mature spermatozoa.The results of vimentin immunohistochemical staining have showed that vimentin had collapsed toward the Sertoli cell nucleus, and there was no "spoke-like" pattern in the testis. In addition some Sertoli cells even defluxioed into the lumens in 1/2 LD50 group.There was no difference of testosterone between the control and the other sampling points, but only a downward trend. The result of 3β-HSD assay indicated that the expression of 3β-HSD was significantly inhibited by Solanine. However, there was an obvious increase of the expression of LH in Leydig cells. The reason for the results were complicated, and we thought that one possible explanation was the function change of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Solanine damaged the Leydig cells induced the feedback regulation, which made the pituitary secrete more LH. This regulation made the level of testosterone keep stable in the Serum.The result of Western blot have showed that Solanine could induce dramatic decrease of ABP in the Sertoli cells. The most possible reason of this was the Sertoli cells damaged by Solanine which made the secretion function of Sertoli cells off-normal.Therefore, the results of this study suggested that Solanine leaded to male reproductive toxicity by influencing the functions of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells.