Protective Effects Of Lycopene On Irradiation-induced Reproductive System Injury In Male Rats

Background:Modern nuclear medicine and ionizing radiation technology have achieved unprecedented development and popularity,escorting public health and bringing potential dangers.Ionizing radiation can raise reactive oxygen levels,which can damage the integrity of biological membranes and damage DNA.Lycopene(LYC),a natural antioxidant whose rate constant is much higher than other carotenoids,can efficiently quench active oxygen through both physical and chemical methods.Objective:To study the protective effect of LYC on the reproductive system of SD rats after 2Gy X-ray irradiation.Methods:30 SD rats,weighing 170±10g,were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each:Group A:blank control group;Group B:2Gy X-ray irradiation;Group C:2Gy X-ray irradiation+LYC 5mg/(kg·d);group D:2Gy X-ray irradiation+LYC 10mg/(kg·d);group E:2Gy X-ray irradiation+LYC 15mg/(kg·d).Gavage was continued for 24 days,during which the general condition of rats was recorded.Intraperitoneal anesthesia,cardiac blood collection,sperm concentration and vitality of one side of epididymis were measured,and histomorphology was observed on the prostate and epididymis and testes on the other side.Organs were weighed one by one and body weight gain and organ index were calculated.Serum was extracted to detect IgG,IgM,MDA,T-SOD,T-AOCIL-6,IL-8,and TNF-alevels.Results:1.During the experiment period,rats in group B gradually developed apathetic,lethargic,and slowed down.One died on day 2 and 3 respectively.Multiple head and neck and limbs were found on days 16 and 18.Subcutaneous hematoma;rats in group C died on day 4,and rats in each group had good behavioral signs such as feeding,drinking,and defecation.2.Compared with group A,the weight gain of the remaining 4 groups of rats decreased(P<0.01);the spleen index of group B rats increased(P<0.01);the thymus index of rats of groups D and E increased(P<0.05);the spleen index of rats in groups C,D,and E was lower than that in group B(P<0.01);there was no difference in testicular,epididymal,and liver indexes among the groups(P>0.05).3.Compared with group A,sperm motility and concentration of rats in group B were significantly decreased(P<0.01);sperm motility of rats in groups C,D,and E was significantly improved compared with group B(P<0.01),and sperm concentration was significantly increased(P<0.05),but could not return to normal levels(P<0.01).4.The testicular structure of the rats in group B was significantly damaged,the number of sperm in the epididymis was significantly reduced,and many cell debris were seen in the prostate;the structure of the testis in the groups C,D,and E was significantly improved,the sperm in the epididymis increased,and the prostate structure became normal.However,there is still a certain gap with Group A.5.Compared with group B,the IgG of rats in group C and D increased(P<0.05),the increase in group E was significant(P<0.01),and there was no difference between IgM groups(P<0.05).6.Compared with group A,rats in group B had increased MDA(P<0.05),T-SOD decreased(P<0.05),and T-AOC significantly decreased(P<0.01);rats in groups C,D,and E MDA was approximately normal(P>0.05);T-SOD levels in serum of group E rats were significantly increased(P<0.01);T-AOC levels of rats in groups C,D,and E were significantly increased(P<0.01),and returned to normal levels(P>0.05).7.TNF-?,IL-8 in group B rats increased(P<0.05),and IL-6 increased significantly(P<0.01);IL-6,TNF-?,IL in rats in group C,D,and E The-8 level returned to normal(P>0.05).Conclusion:LYC can improve radiation-induced reproductive system damage of male rats by regulating oxidative stress,especially increasing sperm motility and concentration,as well as reducing reproductive system inflammation.