Affiliation:
1. School of Preclinical Medicine Zunyi Medical University Zunyi China zmc.edu.cn
2. Department of Reproductive Medicine Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University Zunyi China zmchospital.com.cn
Abstract
Coridius chinensis is a traditional Chinese medicinal insect, whose extract (CcE) is widely used for male reproductive disorders. Manganese (Mn2+) as a heavy metal pollutant can cause toxicity to the reproductive system in mammals. Previous studies found that CcE can resist the apoptosis and oxidation by Mn2+ exposed to repair the damage of seminiferous epithelium in rat. However, the therapeutic effect of CcE in the testicular stroma remains unclear. Our study found that the slow mating behaviors of capture, riding, insertion, and ejaculation with Mn2+ exposure were improved by CcE treatment in male rat. The level of testosterone was significantly increased in CcE‐treated groups. Meanwhile, the damage about less area and cell number in testicular stroma due to Mn2+ exposure was repaired after CcE treatment. Ultrastructure analysis of Leydig cells showed the larger mitochondria and more endoplasmic reticulum in Mn2+CcE groups became than that in Mn2+ group. Further experiments showed that mRNA and protein level of steroidogenic‐related regulators (STAR, CYP11α1, and HSD3β1) were significantly decreased in Mn2+ group and strongly upregulated occurred at medium concentration of CcE given. Taken together, our results provide a new insight of CcE in promoting testosterone production of Leydig cells to protect male reproductive behavior from Mn2+ toxicity.
Funder
Department of Education of Guizhou Province