Abstract
Morinda officinalis is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which has been used to tonify the kidney and strengthen yang for a long time in China. In this study, the effects of M. officinalis Polysaccharide (MOP) on experimental varicocele adolescent rats were investigated. The result showed that varicocele destroyed the structure of the seminiferous epithelium and decreased the TJ protein expression (Occludin, Claudin-11, and ZO-1), testosterone (T) concentration in the left testicular tissue and serum, and serum levels of inhibin B (INHB), while increasing the levels of cytokines (TGF-β3 and TNF-α) in the left testicular tissue, as well as serum levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and antisperm antibody (AsAb). MOP repaired the damaged seminiferous epithelium and TJ and reduced the levels of cytokines (TGF-β3 and TNF-α) as well as serum levels of GnRH, FSH, LH, and AsAb, while upregulating TJ protein expression, T level in the left testicular tissue and serum, and serum INHB levels. In summary, we conclude that MOP promotes spermatogenesis and counteracts the varicocele-induced damage to the seminiferous epithelium and TJ, probably via decreasing cytokines (TGF-β3 and TNF-α) levels and regulating the abnormal sex hormones levels in experimental varicocele rats.
Highlights
Morinda officinalis (Bajitian in Chinese), the dried rhizome of plant Morinda officinalis F.C.How, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to tonify the kidney, strengthen yang, and treat impotence, menstrual disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, immune deficiency, and osteoporosis for a long time [1]
Our previous study indicated that M. officinalis aqueous extract was more effective than the alcohol extract in promoting spermatogenesis and encouraging the plerosis of injured reproductive organs [4, 5], indicating that M. officinalis Polysaccharide (MOP) may be the main effective component that tonifies the kidney and strengthens yang in M. officinalis
Tight junction establishes a specialized microenvironment for spermatogenesis and permits the regular passage of preleptotene and leptotene spermatocytes across the blood-testis barrier (BTB) for further development [7]
Summary
Morinda officinalis (Bajitian in Chinese), the dried rhizome of plant Morinda officinalis F.C.How, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to tonify the kidney, strengthen yang, and treat impotence, menstrual disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, immune deficiency, and osteoporosis for a long time [1]. Our previous study indicated that M. officinalis aqueous extract (containing most of the MOP) was more effective than the alcohol extract in promoting spermatogenesis and encouraging the plerosis of injured reproductive organs [4, 5], indicating that MOP may be the main effective component that tonifies the kidney and strengthens yang in M. officinalis. Testosterone (T) can significantly increase the Sertoli cell-TJ permeability barrier in vitro [9] and stimulate the expression of Occludin [10]. Testosterone at 1 × 10−7 mol L−1 (similar to the testicular level) can protect the Sertoli cell-TJ-permeability barrier from CdCl2-induced destruction in vitro [10]
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