The Protective Effect of Trichilia catigua A. Juss. on DEHP-Induced Reproductive System Damage in Male Mice

Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the protective effect and molecular mechanisms of Trichilia catigua A. Juss. extract (TCE) against di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-induced damage to the reproductive system of mice. Acute toxicity tests revealed that the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in mice was up to 2.7 g kg−1. After induction with DEHP, TCE (L-TCE, M-TCE, H-TCE) was orally administered to mice for 28 days. Differences in indicators among groups showed that TCE significantly improved the anogenital distance and the organ indexes of the epididymides and testes. It also significantly reduced varicocele and interstitial cell lesions compared to the model group. H-TCE reduced the sperm abnormality rate, increased the levels of sex hormones, Na+K+ and Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPase enzyme activity, antioxidant enzyme vitality, coupled with a significant decrease in LH and MDA contents. The levels of testicular marker enzymes ACP and LDH were significantly augmented by both M-TCE and H-TCE. Further studies claimed that DEHP induction reduced the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, SOD2, SOD3, CDC25C CDK1, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, 5ɑ-R, AR, SF1, and CYP17A1, increased the level of Keap1, while TCE reversed the expression levels of these genes. Meanwhile, IHC results demonstrated a significant change in the expression activity of the relevant proteins compared to the control group. The results suggest that M-TCE and H-TCE enabled the recovery of DEHP-induced reproductive system damage in male mice by improving testicular histopathology, repairing testicular function, and reducing oxidative stress damage. The oxidation-related Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, SODs enzyme, the cell cycle control-related CDC25C-CDK1 pathway, and the steroidogenic-related pathway may contribute to this protective effects of TCE.

Schaftoside inhibits 3CLpro and PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 virus and regulates immune response and inflammation of host cells for the treatment of COVID-19

“…The acute toxicity of schaftoside in mice was evaluated 42 . Male ICR mice (20 g) were treated with schaftoside (20, 40, and 300 mg/kg, i.g.)…”

MicroRNA-375 Mediated Regulation on Pre-mRNA Processing Factor 3 in Zebrafish Embryos Exposed to Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate at Low Concentrations

“…Similar to miR-375, PRPF3 may primarily regulate DEHP-induced reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and metabolic toxicity. Under DEHP exposure, PRPF3 has the potential to cause germ cell growth arrest and dysfunction, abnormal neuronal cell metabolism, and hepatocyte apoptosis through regulation of genes related to the cell cycle and the ERK signaling pathway. − Studies have shown that the regulation of HNF4α by PRPF3 may be involved in the regulation of intestinal transcription factors in the zebrafish gut flora to obtain adaptive immunity in DEHP exposure. , PRPF3 likely promoted carcinogenesis through activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in response to DEHP exposure. , In addition, the DEHP-induced disruption of glucose metabolism was likely to be regulated by PRPF3 as well. In this investigation, we demonstrated that the expression of PRPF3 , which is increased by DEHP exposure, could be detected at an environmental concentration as low as 2 μg/L.…”

Protective Effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murray against Acute Alcoholic Liver Disease in Mice via the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

“…Positive results are indicated by brown-yellow regions (Figure 7a), suggesting antigen antibodies binding to liver cells. The average density was determined by dividing the integrated optical density value (IOD) by the pixel area (AREA) of each positive image, allowing for the analysis of immunohistochemical findings through the mean density (AOD) for protein quantification [25]. Figure 7b-d Positive results are indicated by brown-yellow regions (Figure 7a), suggesting antigen antibodies binding to liver cells.…”