Abstract

Context

Verbascoside (VB), which is found in many medicinal plant families, exhibits biological activities in various diseases. However, its effects on varicocele (VCL)-induced damage remain unknown.

Objective

To investigate the effects and mechanism of VB on experimental rats with varicocele (VCL)-induced damage.

Materials and methods

Sixty sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into six groups (n = 10): control, control-sham, VCL-vehicle (normal saline), and VCL + VB groups (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally). After 4 weeks of VB treatment, all animals were sacrificed, and the body and testicular weight, sperm quality parameters, histopathology, antioxidant status, and hormone levels were tested. The levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone in the hypothalamus were detected by western blot.

Results

Compared with the VCL-vehicle group (41.14%), administration of VB significantly increased the sperm viability (59.29, 65.45, 84.93%). VB groups showed higher Johnson’s score (3.57 ± 0.15, 4.71 ± 0.26, 7.93 ± 0.37) than VCL-vehicle group (2.72 ± 0.24). Antioxidant status and hormone levels alterations were also observed. Meanwhile, the mean number of apoptotic tubules (8.15 ± 0.96, 6.61 ± 1.05, 2.17 ± 0.08) and apoptotic index showed a marked decrease. Compared with the VCL-vehicle group (0.21 ± 0.09), the VB groups (0.36 ± 0.07, 0.42 ± 0.06, 0.88 ± 0.10) showed considerable increases in GnRH.

Discussion and conclusions

VB has protective effects on reproductive organs and VB may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of varicocele through up-regulation of the HPG axis.

中文翻译：

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Verbascoside 通过上调下丘脑-垂体-性腺 (HPG) 轴来减轻实验性精索静脉曲张对睾丸和精子水平的损害

摘要

语境

Verbascoside (VB) 存在于许多药用植物科中，在各种疾病中表现出生物活性。然而，它对精索静脉曲张 (VCL) 引起的损伤的影响仍然未知。

客观的

探讨VB对精索静脉曲张（VCL）致损伤实验大鼠的作用及机制。

材料和方法

将 60 只性成熟雄性 Sprague-Dawley (SD) 大鼠分为六组 ( n  = 10)：对照组、对照组、VCL 载体（生理盐水）和 VCL + VB 组（50、100 和 200 毫克/ kg/天，腹膜内）。VB治疗4周后，处死所有动物，并测试体重和睾丸重量、精子质量参数、组织病理学、抗氧化状态和激素水平。Western blot检测下丘脑促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)和促性腺激素抑制激素水平。

结果

与 VCL 载体组 (41.14%) 相比，服用 VB 显着提高了精子活力 (59.29, 65.45, 84.93%)。VB 组的 Johnson 评分（3.57 ± 0.15、4.71 ± 0.26、7.93 ± 0.37）高于 VCL 车辆组（2.72 ± 0.24）。还观察到抗氧化状态和激素水平的改变。同时，凋亡小管的平均数（8.15±0.96、6.61±1.05、2.17±0.08）和凋亡指数显着下降。与 VCL 车辆组 (0.21 ± 0.09) 相比，VB 组 (0.36 ± 0.07、0.42 ± 0.06、0.88 ± 0.10) 的 GnRH 显着增加。

讨论和结论

VB 对生殖器官具有保护作用，并且 VB 可能通过上调 HPG 轴在治疗精索静脉曲张方面具有治疗作用。