Abstract
To study how hydrogen-rich saline (HS) promotes the recovery of testicular biological function in a hemi-sectioned spinal cord injury (hSCI) rat model, a right hemisection was performed at the T11–T12 of the spinal cord in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into four groups: normal group; vehicle group: sham-operated rats administered saline; hSCI group: subjected to hSCI and administered saline; HRST group: subjected to hSCI and administered HS. Hind limb neurological function, testis index, testicular morphology, mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD) and seminiferous epithelial thickness (MSET), the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), mitofusin-2 (MFN-2), and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1), cell ultrastructure, and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells were studied. The results indicated that hSCI significantly decreased the hind limb neurological function, testis index, MSTD, and MSET, and induced severe testicular morphological injury. The MFN-2 level was decreased, and HO-1 and HMGB-1 were overexpressed in testicular tissues. In addition, hSCI accelerated the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the ultrastructural damage of cells in the hypophysis and testis. After HS administration, all these parameters were considerably improved, and the characteristics of hSCI testes were similar to those of normal control testes. Taken together, HS administration can promote the recovery of testicular biological function by anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic action. More importantly, HS can inhibit the hSCI-induced ultrastructural changes in gonadotrophs, ameliorate the abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis, and thereby promote the recovery of testicular injury. HS administration also inhibited the hSCI-induced ultrastructural changes in testicular spermatogenic cells, Sertoli cells and interstitial cells.
Highlights
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is defined as acute traumatic injury to the spinal cord, potentially leading to varying degrees of motor and/or sensory deficits, paralysis, and reduced quality of life [1, 2]
To observe the protective role of hydrogen-rich saline (HS), we investigated the effects of different dose durations (3, 7, 14, and 28 days) of HS on the hind limb neurological function scores of hemi-sectioned spinal cord injury (hSCI) animals (Figure 1)
The results indicated that sham operation did not seriously injure rat hind limb neurological function compared with the control group
Summary
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is defined as acute traumatic injury to the spinal cord, potentially leading to varying degrees of motor and/or sensory deficits, paralysis, and reduced quality of life [1, 2]. Despite great advances in the field of rehabilitation medicine, infertility due to SCI remains a significant complication. Fertility problems in men with SCI are mainly due to erectile or ejaculatory disturbances and poor semen quality [3, 4]. Advanced assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are often required to assist conception in couples with SCI male partners [5]. ART is selected on the basis of the number of motile spermatozoa available in the ejaculate. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are the only alternatives for men with severely reduced numbers of motile spermatozoa. Apart from the increased costs associated with IVF/ICSI, there are increased risk of complications to the mothers, multiple births, and possible mental retardation and autism in the offspring [6]
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