Effects of Icariin on serum testosterone levels and repair of leydig cell line damage in manganese-exposed SD rats
Objective To investigate the repairing effect of Icariin(IC A)on manganese(Mn)-exposed testicu-lar Leydig cell injury and its effect on serum testosterone content in SD rats.Methods SD rats were randomly di-vided into a control group,a model group(30 mg/kg MnCl2·4H2O),and an IC A intervention group(30 mg/kg MnCl2·4H2O+100 mg/kg ICA);MnCl2·4H2O was injected intraperitoneally for 4 consecutive weeks(5 days per week),followed by ICA gavage for 2 consecutive weeks in the ICA intervention group;HE staining was used to observe testicular structural changes;Elisa assay for serum testosterone(TSTO)and qPCR assay for the expression levels of 3β-HSD,StAR and P450scc in rat testis.Mouse Leydig cell line TM3 was randomly divided into control group,model group(1 mmol/L Mn2+),ICA intervention group I(1 mmol/L Mn2++0.08μmol/L ICA),IC A intervention group Ⅱ(1 mmol/L Mn2++0.4μmol/L ICA),ICA intervention group Ⅲ(1mmol/L Mn2++2μmol/L ICA),ICA intervention group Ⅳ(1 mmol/L Mn2++10μmol/L ICA),ICA inter-vention group V(1 mmol/L Mn2++50μmol/L ICA);the effects of different concentrations of ICA on the pro-liferation of manganese exposed TM3 cells in vitro were detected by MTT method.Results ICA can repair the damage of manganese to the structure of spermatogenic tubules;manganese can reduce the serum testosterone concentration in rats,and ICA can increase the serum testosterone concentration in manganese-exposed rats;manganese can inhibit the expression of testosterone production-related genes 3β-HSD,StAR,and P450scc in the testes,and ICA can promote the expression of testosterone production related genes 3β-HSD,StAR,and P450scc in the testes of manganese-exposed rats;manganese can inhibit TM3 proliferation in vitro,and ICA can promote TM3 proliferation in vitro in manganese exposed rats.ICA promoted the expression of 3β-HSD,StAR and P450scc in the testis of manganese-exposed rats;manganese inhibited the proliferation of TM3 in vitro,and ICA promoted the proliferation of TM3 in vitro.Conclusion Manganese can inhibit the expression of StAR,P450scc and 3β-HSD,and inhibit the synthesis of testosterone in testicular stromal cells.ICA can promote the expression of StAR,P450scc and 3β-HSD,and promote the synthesis of testosterone in manganese-exposed testicular stromal cells.ICA can repair the damage of manganese on testicular interstitial cells.