Male infertility induced by heat stress has been attracting more and more attention. Heat stress not only causes apoptosis of spermatocytes but also has adverse effects on Sertoli cells, further damaging spermatogenesis. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the main bioactive component of Lycium barbarum, which has a protective effect on male reproduction, but its mechanism is still unclear. In this study, our results proved that LBP blocked the inhibitory effect on the proliferation activity of Sertoli cells after heat stress, reversed the dedifferentiation of Sertoli cells induced by heat stress, and ameliorated the structural integrity of the blood-testis barrier. In addition, it increased the expression of the androgen receptor and activated Akt signaling pathway to resist heat-stress-induced injury of Sertoli cells.
The blood–testis barrier (BTB) of Sertoli cells (SCs) is an important biological barrier that maintains spermatogenesis and provides a favourable microenvironment for spermatogenesis. However, heat stress can directly damage the BTB structural proteins of testicular SCs, leading to dyszoospermia. Wuzi Yanzong Pills (WYP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used to treat male reproductive diseases. However, whether WYP could ameliorate heat stress injury in primary SCs extracted from rat testes and BTB proteins remains unknown. Here, treatment with WYP (low, medium and high dose) increased the SC viability and the proliferation of cell antigen Ki67 significantly. Additionally, it promoted SC maturation, which presented in the form of increased androgen receptors (ARs) and decreased cytokeratin 18 (CK‐18) in three WYP dose groups. WYP upregulated BTB proteins such as zonula occludens 1 (ZO‐1) and occludin across all WYP groups and decreased phosphorylated Akt (p‐Akt) in the middle and high‐dose groups; however, ZO‐1 and occludin recovery were reduced with the presence of Akt inhibitor in WYP groups. WYP improved SC viability and proliferation, and ameliorated dedifferentiation and BTB‐proteins damaged by heat stress via Akt signalling. The findings present theoretical support for the effects of WYP in the management of dyszoospermia and male infertility.
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