Morinda Officinalis Polysaccharides Stimulate Hypothalamic GnRH Secretion in Varicocele Progression.

Zhu Zhu,Feng Wang,Yonghong Zhang,Wei Wang,Xiaozhen Zhao,Feng Huang

doi:10.1155/2017/9057959

Abstract

Varicoceles (VCs) are the predominant cause of male infertility and are a risk factor for chronic venous disease. Morinda officinalis (M. officinalis) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to tonify the kidney and strengthen yang. In this study, we evaluated the effects of water-soluble polysaccharides extracted from M. officinalis (MOPs) on gonadotropin-release hormone (GnRH) secretion in a classic experimental left VC (ELV) rat model. Intragastric administration of MOPs at a dose ranging from 50 mg kg−1 to 100 mg kg−1 facilitated improvements in sperm parameters and seminiferous epithelial structures, modulated serum hormone profiles, and stimulated GnRH synthesis and release in the hypothalamus. MOPs also promoted spinogenesis and functional spine maturation in the arcuate nuclei (Arc), wherein they acted mainly on Kiss1 and GnRH neurons. Moreover, MOP-mediated Kisspeptin-GPR54 pathway upregulation and MAPK phosphorylation activation may have been responsible for increases in GnRH synthesis and release. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that MOPs were effective in stimulating GnRH secretion, possibly by upregulating the Kiss1/GPR54 pathway and enhancing synaptic plasticity, and that MOPs can serve as a therapy for early VCs.

Highlights

Varicoceles (VCs), which are defined as dilations and tortuosities of the pampiniform venous plexus in the spermatic cord, are the predominant cause of male infertility [1]
As rat spermatogenesis is similar to human spermatogenesis [39], we established a classic Experimental left varicocele (ELV) rat model to mimic the nutcracker phenomenon that affects humans
We intragastrically administered four different doses of M. officinalis polysaccharides (MOPs) immediately after the animal model was established to demonstrate the protective effects of MOPs on testes during the early stages of VC development

Summary

Introduction

Varicoceles (VCs), which are defined as dilations and tortuosities of the pampiniform venous plexus in the spermatic cord, are the predominant cause of male infertility [1]. VCs are characterized by the following histopathological changes: degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium and increases in cell apoptosis [4]. Left-sided VCs comprise 85–90% of cases as a result of venous congestion and rigid posture [3, 5]. Experimental left varicocele (ELV) models using dogs and rats are the most commonly used classic models that mimic VC progression in men [6]. ELVs usually lead to degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium at least four weeks after their establishment via surgery [7, 8]

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