Study on the mechanism of Wuzi-Yanzong-Wan-medicated serum interfering with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in the GC-2 cell induced by atractyloside / 中国天然药物

Wuzi-Yanzong-Wan (WZYZW) is a classic prescription for male infertility. Our previous investigation has demonstrated that it can inhibit sperm apoptosis via affecting mitochondria, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The purpose of the present study was to explore the actions of WZYZW on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in mouse spermatocyte cell line (GC-2 cells) opened by atractyloside (ATR). At first, WZYZW-medicated serum was prepared from rats following oral administration of WZYZW for 7 days. GC-2 cells were divided into control group, model group, positive group, as well as 5%, 10%, 15% WZYZW-medicated serum group. Cyclosporine A (CsA) was used as a positive control. 50 μmol·L-1 ATR was added after drugs incubation. Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and TUNEL method. The opening of mPTP and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected by Calcein AM and JC-1 fluorescent probe respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), cyclophilin D (CypD), adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), cytochrome C (Cyt C), caspase 3, 9 were detected by RT-PCR (real time quantity PCR) and Western blotting respectively. The results demonstrated that mPTP of GC-2 cells was opened after 24 hours of ATR treatment, resulting in decreased MMP and increased apoptosis. Pre-protection with WZYZ-medicated serum and CsA inhibited the opening of mPTP of GC-2 cells induced by ATR associated with increased MMP and decreased apoptosis. Moreover, the results of RT-qPCR and WB suggested that WZYZW-medicated serum could significantly reduce the mRNA and protein levels of VDAC1 and CypD, Caspase-3, 9 and CytC, as well as a increased ratio of Bcl/Bax. However, ANT was not significantly affected. Therefore, these findings indicated that WZYZW inhibited mitochondrial mediated apoptosis by attenuating the opening of mPTP in GC-2 cells. WZYZW-medicated serum inhibited the expressions of VDAC1 and CypD and increased the expression of Bcl-2, which affected the opening of mPTP and exerted protective and anti-apoptotic effects on GC-2 cell induced by ATR.

Hyperoside protects mouse spermatocytes GC-2 cells from oxidative damage by activating the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To study the protective effect of hyperoside (Hyp) against ydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- induced oxidative damage in mouse spermatocytes GC-2 cells and explore the role of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in this protective mechanism.@*METHODS@#GC-2 cells were treated with 2.5 mmol/L azaacetylcysteine (NAC), 50, 100, and 200 μmol/L hyperoside, or the culture medium for 48 h before exposure to H2O2 (150 μmol/L) for 2 h. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the changes in cell viability, and cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the culture medium. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was detected using immunofluorescence assay.@*RESULTS@#Exposure to H2O2 significantly lowered the proliferation rate, reduced the activities of SOD, GSH and CAT, and obviously increased MDA content, cell apoptosis rate, and the expressions of Keap1 and Nrf2 mRNA and Keap1 protein in GC-2 cells (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Treatment of the cells prior to H2O2 exposure with either NAC or 200 μmol/L hyperoside significantly increased the cell proliferation rate, enhanced the activities of SOD, GSH-PX and CAT, and lowered MDA content and cell apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). Treatment with 200 μmol/L hyperoside significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of Keap1 and increased the expressions of HO-1 mRNA and the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Hyperoside also caused obvious nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in the cells (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Hyperoside protects GC-2 cells against H2O2- induced oxidative damage possibly by activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Effect of Wuzi Yanzong Wan on Sperm Apoptosis by Intervening with Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the effect of Wuzi Yanzong Wan on the expressions of voltage-dependent anion channel 1 （VDAC1）， adenine nucleotide transposase （ANT）， cyclophilin D （CypD） and other proteins， and analyze its mechanism in intervening with sperm mitochondrial permeability transition pore （mPTP） opening. Method:Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups， namely normal group， model group， positive group （Shengjing capsule， 1.6 g·kg-1·d-1）， and Wuzi Yanzong Wan group （4.0 g·kg-1·d-1）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， tripterygium wilfordii glycosides （GTW， 30 mg·kg-1） was intragastrically administered for 8 weeks to establish the oligozoospermia model. After the 4th week， each group was given drugs through intragastric administration for 4 weeks， and fasted for 12 h after the last administration. These rats were anesthetized with 3% chloral hydrate， and their testis and epididymis tissues were collected. Western blot was used to determine the protein expressions of VDAC1，ANT，CypD，B-cell lymphoma/leukemia2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， Caspase-3， Caspase-9 in rat testis， Testicular tissue and its ultrastructure were observed under electron microscopy. The apoptosis in spermatogenic cells was detected by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling （TUNEL）. Result:Western blot results showed that compared with the normal group， the expressions of VDAC1， CypD， Caspase-3， Caspase-9 and Bax/Bcl-2 in the model group were increased （P<0.01）. The expressions of VDAC1， CypD， Caspase-3， Caspase-9 and Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly decreased in the positive group and the Wuzi Yanzong Wan group compared with the model group （P<0.01）. There was no significant change in the expressions of ANT and Bcl-2 protein between the groups. Testicular ultrastructural evaluation showed different sizes and disordered arrangement of sperm mitochondria and a large number of swelling and vacuoles in the model group， while complete structure and neat arrangement of sperm mitochondria and much less swelling and vacuole in positive group and Wuzi Yanzong Wan group. TUNEL results showed that the apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells in the model group was significantly higher than that of the normal group （P<0.01）， while the apoptosis rate in the positive drug and Wuzi Yanzong Wan group was significantly lower than that of the model group （P<0.01）. Conclusion:Wuzi Yanzong Wan may resist germ cell apoptosis by inhibiting the expressions of VDAC1， CypD and Bax， reducing the permeability of mPTP， and preventing the cascade activation reaction of the Caspase family of apoptosis proteins.

Protective effect of Wuziyanzong Pills on rats with experimental oligoasthenospermia and its action mechanism / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the protective effect of Wuziyanzong Pills (WYP) in the rat model of oligoasthenospermia (OAS) and its action mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male SD rats were equally randomized into six groups: normal control, OAS model, Shengjing Capsules (1.6 g per kg of the body weight), low-dose WYP (1 g per kg of the body weight), medium-dose WYP (2 g per kg of the body weight), and high-dose WYP (4 g per kg of the body weight). The OAS model was established by intragastric administration of Tripterygium glucoside at 30 mg per g per d for 6 weeks. From the 3rd week of modeling, the rats of the medication groups were treated intragastrically with corresponding drugs for 4 weeks. Then all the rats were sacrificed for measurement of the testicular and epididymal organ coefficients, examination of epididymal sperm quality and apoptosis, and detection of the openness of the sperm mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). Histopathological changes in the testis were observed by HE staining and the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells determined by Hochest staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>WYP obviously improved the organ coefficients of the testis and epididymis, increased sperm concentration, motility and viability, decreased the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, and inhibited the abnormal openness of MPTP in the OAS model rats. HE staining showed that the number and levels of spermatogenic cells were significantly increased while Hochest staining manifested that the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was remarkably inhibited in the seminiferous tubules of the testis in the WYP-treated rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WYP can improve sperm quality and reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells (including sperm) in OAS model rats, which may be related with its inhibitory effect on the abnormal openness of MPTP.</p>

Wuzi yanzong pills increases sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and protects its ultrastructure in oligo-asthenozoospermia model rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Wuzi Yanzong Pills (WYP) on sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and its ultrastructure in oligo-asthenozoospermia model rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Oligo-asthenozoospermia models were made in 50 male rats weighing 200 - 220 g by intragastric administration of Tripterygium Glucosides at 30 mg per kg per d for 8 weeks, and then equally allocated to a model control, a Huangjing Zanyu Capsule (HZC) control, a low-dose WYP, a medium-dose WYP, and a high-dose WYP group. Another 10 age-matched normal male rats were included as normal controls. The rats in the model and normal control groups were given intragastrically distilled water at 10 ml/kg, those in the HZC group administered HZC at 3.01 g/kg, and those in the low-, medium- and high-dose WYP groups medicated with WYP at 2.30, 4.60 and 9.20 g/kg, respectively, once daily for 30 days. At 30 minutes after the last administration, we detected the sperm MMP by JC-1 fluorescent staining and flow cytometry, and examined the sperm ultrastructure under the JEM-1230 transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>JC-1 + % and its fluorescence intensity were (33.77 +/- 6.19)% and 1 468 +/- 496 in the model control, (56.34 +/- 10.35)% and 3 277 +/- 895 in the HZC control, (40.80 +/- 10.40)% and 2 016 +/- 767 in the low-dose WYP, (59.40 +/- 6.51)% and 3 897 +/- 643 in the medium-dose WYP, and (60.71 +/- 7.81)% and 3 371 +/- 647 in the high-dose WYP group, significantly reduced in comparison with (70.80 +/- 4.92)% and 4 360 +/- 945 in the normal control group (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the medium- and high-dose WYP groups than in the model controls (P < 0. 05). After modeling, the sperm membrane was loose and degenerated, the mitochondria swelling, variously sized and with incomplete membrane, and the axonemal structure unclear or ruptured. After 30 days of WYP administration, compared with the model control group, the rats exhibited integrated sperm membrane and mitochondrial membrane, reduced mitochondrial swelling and basically normal axonemal and microtubular structures.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tripterygium Glucosides could decrease the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and damage the mitochondrial structure, while WYP could significantly increase the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and reduce the sperm mitochondrial structure damage. The protection of the integrity of sperm mitochondrial structure and function is one of the mechanisms of WYP acting on oligo-asthenozoospermia.</p>

Efficacy evaluation of laparoscopic gastric bypass for the treatment of obese type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the treatment outcomes of obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after laparoscopic gastric bypass.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 18 patients with obese T2DM who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in Beijing Shijitan Hospital between March 2009 and February 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical parameters included preoperative and postoperative blood glucose, blood lipid, nutrition status and weight lose.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighteen patients included 8 men and 10 women. The range of age was 27-62 years (mean, 42.4±10.7 years). The range of BMI was 28.7-57.4 kg/m(2)(mean, 34.9±6.9 kg/m(2)). All the patients underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and no mortality, complication or conversion to open operation occurred. At 3 months after operation, there were significant changes in OGTT, BMI, HbA1c, Homa-IR and Homa-β(all P<0.05). Fourteen patients(77.8%) showed clinical complete remission, and the overall effective rate was 100%(18/18). The level of blood lipid decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the change of nutritional status was not statistically significant(P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Gastric bypass is an effective treatment for obese type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p>