Bromelain prevents mouse testis from tert‐butyl hydroperoxide‐induced dysfunction by inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation, and cellular senscence

Abstract

Researches indicated the bromelain, an extract from pineapple stem, has anti‐inflammatory effects in several system models. In contrast, the lipid prooxidant tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (t‐BHP) has been referred to cause oxidative stress‐mediated testicular damage. This study was to investigate the effects of bromelain against t‐BHP‐induced testicular dysfunction. Male mice at 4‐week of age were given vehicle, t‐BHP alone, bromelain alone, or bromelain followed by t‐BHP. After 2 weeks, mice treated with t‐BHP alone displayed reduced sperm counts, elevated apoptotic indexed (upregulation of Bax, downregulation of Bcl‐2, release of cytochrome c to cytosol, activation of caspase‐3, and increase of cleaved caspase‐3 abudance and TUENL positive cells), intensified differentiated expressions of cell‐cycle regulators (p53, p21, p16, and pRb), activated cellular senescence (upregulated SA‐beta‐gal positive‐cells and downregulated telomerase activity), and impacted male fertility (inhibition of testicular FSH hormone receptor and elevation of serum FSH level). Interestingly, bromelain pretreatment could antagonize nearly all of these abnormalities caused by t‐BHP. In conclusion, bromelain could suppress the apoptotic actions, cellular senescence, and infertility in testis. Bromelain may be a potential natural product for ameliorating testicular failure in clinical practice.