The cold-soaking extract of Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) protects against erectile dysfunction by ameliorating testicular function in hydrocortisone-induced KDS-Yang rats and in oxidatively damaged TM3 cells

Yu, Shiting; Han, Bing; Bai, Xueyuan; Liu, Shichao; Xing, Xin; Zhao, Daqing; Liu, Meichen; Wang, Siming

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113223

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…A previous study revealed that Chinese yam protein extract enhanced testosterone levels and attenuated testicular fibrosis and oxidative stress in HCT-induced erectile dysfunction rats and H 2 O 2 -treated TM3 cells, suggesting that Chinese yam protein is potentially effective for the treatment of testicular dysfunction via the inhibition of oxidative stress [ 9 ]. In the present study, we first extracted a protein (DP1) from Chinese yam and demonstrated that it effectively ameliorated HCT-induced testicular dysfunction by alleviating Leydig cell injury, including increasing cell numbers, inhibiting excessive apoptosis and fibrosis, and increasing the testosterone content.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding testicular morphology, the present study first demonstrated that DP1 effectively alleviated the HCT-induced decreases in testicular and epididymal index, seminiferous tubule atrophy, and reduced germ cell layer thickness in testicular tissue. In addition, excessive apoptosis and fibrosis contribute to abnormal testicular pathological morphology induced by glucocorticoids [ 9 , 30 ]. Under the induction of HCT, the TUNEL expression in testicular tissues was significantly increased, and DP1 reversed the excessive apoptosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone (HCT), are widely used for the treatment of multiple diseases because of their strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects [5,6]. However, long-term or excessive exposure to glucocorticoids may induce Leydig cell lose their normal morphology and function and eventually lead to testicular dysfunction, which is largely associated with the induction of apoptosis and fibrosis [7][8][9]. Therefore, inhibition of apoptosis and fibrosis would hinder Leydig cell injury, which can in turn effectively delay the initiation and progression of glucocorticoids-induced testicular dysfunction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent pharmacological studies have shown that Chinese yam or its extract considerably improves testicular dysfunction, such as enhancing testosterone levels and increasing sperm numbers [ 26 , 27 ]. Our previous study demonstrated that Chinese yam protein extract ameliorated testicular injury in HCT-induced erectile dysfunction rats and had a greater effect on oxidatively damaged TM3 cells than water decoction extract, water extraction, alcohol precipitation extract, and alcohol extract [ 9 ]. More importantly, the results of our study and previous reports all preliminarily confirmed that resistance to oxidative stress was involved in the protective effect of Chinese yam on testicular dysfunction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

A Protein from Dioscorea polystachya (Chinese Yam) Improves Hydrocortisone‐Induced Testicular Dysfunction by Alleviating Leydig Cell Injury via Upregulation of the Nrf2 Pathway

Han

Xing

et al. 2021

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leydig cell injury has been described as a primary driver of testicular dysfunction and is affected by oxidative stress. Dioscorea polystachya (Chinese yam) is used to improve testicular dysfunction in clinical and pharmacological research via its antioxidative activity, but the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of Chinese yam on testicular dysfunction and its suppression of Leydig cell oxidative damage remain unclear. In this study, we obtained a Chinese yam protein (DP1) and explored its effectiveness and possible mechanism in improving testicular dysfunction in vivo and in vitro. We established a testicular dysfunction model in rats using hydrocortisone (HCT). DP1 increased body weight and organ index, improved the deterioration in testicular morphology (including increasing the diameter of seminiferous tubules and thickness of germinal cell layers, inhibiting testicular cell apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and impeding collagen leakage by downregulating TGF-β1 and p-SMAD2/3 expression), and restored the testosterone content. In addition, DP1 enhanced the number of Leydig cells in rats and H2O2-induced TM3 Leydig cells, and the effect of DP1 on the apoptosis, fibrosis, and testosterone content of TM3 cells was similar to that observed in vivo. These changes were dependent on the regulation of oxidative stress, including significantly reduced intracellular 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels, enhanced superoxide dismutase activities, and decreased superoxide anion levels, which were confirmed via a superoxide overexpression system. Furthermore, we observed that DP1 promoted Nrf2 nuclear import and upregulated antioxidant factor expression in vivo and in vitro. However, Nrf2 silencing eliminated the ability of DP1 to increase the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, reduce the expression levels of TGF-β1 and p-SMAD2/3, and increase testosterone contents in H2O2-induced TM3 cells. In conclusion, DP1 reversed the HCT-induced testicular apoptosis and fibrosis and decreased testosterone contents by alleviating Leydig cell oxidative damage via upregulation of the Nrf2 pathway.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%