| Objective:To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Epimedium(TFE) on expression of inflammatory factors and specific enzymes of testicular tissue in STZ-induced diabetic rats, observe its protective effect and explore its mechanism.Methods:Diabetic rats, male, SD, were induced by intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ,45mg/kg). Seventy-two hours after STZ administration all animals with plasma glucose level≥16.7mmol/l were considered diabetic and included into the study. Then the rats were divided randomly into three groups:control, model, TFE(80mg/kg/d, i.g.). The rats were observed10weeks for developing diabetic testicular pathological changes, the agents were administered6weeks from5th to the end. The rats were sacrificed to measure the levels of blood glucose and testosterone, then removed the testis and calculated the testis hypertrophy index.(Testis weight/Body weight). Testicular tissue levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD)、malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP)、lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)、gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase(y-GT) were measured.Hemato-xylin and eosin (HE) staining were used to detect the testicular pathological changes by light microscope. Transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)、monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1)、3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3(3-HSD) were detected with immunohistochemistry analysis. The expression of3(3-HSD detected with Western-blot.Results:1. The level of blood glucose of model group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01), weight TW/BW and testosterone levels of model group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.01); The level of testosterone and TW/BW was significantly improved in TFE group,compared with model group(.P<0.05, P<0.01).2. ACP、LDH and γ-GT levels:The activities of ACP、LDH、γ-GT of model group were decreased heavily than the control group (P<0.01); After the intervention with TFE, ACP、LDH and γ-GT were increased significantly, compared with the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01).3. SOD and MDA:The activity of SOD of model group was obviously lower than that of control group (P<0.01); the activity of MDA of model group was higher than that of control group (P<0.01). The activity of SOD of TFE group was significantly higher than that of model group (P<0.05) and the activity of MDA of TFE group was significantly reduced than that of model group (P<0.05).4. The histopathological examination in the testis:Seminiferous tubules were atrophied, spermatogenic cells were disarranged, the number and volume of Leydig cells were heavily reduced in diabetic group; TFE improved these alteration of diabetes significantly.5.The protein expression of TGF-β1、MCP-1and3β-HSD:the protein levels of MCP-1and TGF-β1in model group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01), but the activity of3β-HSD was significantly reduced by Immunohistochemisty (P<0.01), TFE improved these changes. The expression of3β-HSD detected with Western blot was significantly higher than control group (P<0.01).Conclusion:TFE may have protective effect on testis of diabetic rats. The mechanism may be related to promote the secretion of testosterone, regulate the protein expression of TGF-β1、 MCP-1、3β-HSD in testicular tissue and antioxidants. |
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