n/a
Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

Lycopene Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced Testicular Injury by Inhibiting PROK2 Expression and Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in a Varicocele Adult Rat.

Abstract Source:

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 ;2021:3471356. Epub 2021 May 8. PMID: 34055003

Abstract Author(s):

Hongqiang Wang, Baojuan Zhu, Lei Yu, Qiang Li, Shenqian Li, Peitao Wang, Tao Jing, Tongyi Men

Article Affiliation:

Hongqiang Wang

Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lycopene on hypoxia-induced testicular injury in rat model and explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: Six-week-old male Wistar rats ( = 36) were randomly divided into three groups ( = 12/group): a normal group (NG, sham control), a varicocele group (VG), and a varicocele treated by lycopene group (VLG). Bilateral renal veins constriction was performed on rats in VG and VLG. Simultaneously, rats in VLG were treated to lycopene by intragastric administration. Four weeks later, sperm was collected for sperm analysis. Testes and epididymides were harvested for morphological change analysis, histologic analysis, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot.

Results: Our observations were that lycopene improved the hypoxia-induced testicular injury in vivo. Prokineticin 2(PROK2) and prokineticin receptor 2 (PROKR2) were overexpressed in VG ( < 0.01), and lycopene inhibited the PROK2 expression ( < 0.01). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and sex hormones were increased by lycopene in VLG ( < 0.05). Lycopene restored the quality and activity of sperm by blocking PROK2 expression ( < 0.05). The expression of VEGF was increased, as HIF-1/NF-B pathway was upregulated in VLG ( < 0.05). Meanwhile, expression of pAKT/AKT in VLG was higher than that in VG ( < 0.05). In addition, lycopene reduced levels of interleukin-1(IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in VLG ( < 0.05), compared to NG.

Conclusions: Lycopene improved the hypoxia-induced testicular injury by inhibiting the expression of PROK2 and decreasing levels of IL-1and IL-2, which might show us a novel and promising treatment for varicocele testicular injury.

Print Options


Key Research Topics

This website is for information purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.

© Copyright 2008-2024 GreenMedInfo.com, Journal Articles copyright of original owners, MeSH copyright NLM.