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.

Effect of Herbal Medicines in Wuzi Yanzong Wan Processed with Salt-water on Apoptosis of Spermatogenic Cells in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of Wuzi Yanzong Wan made of different processed products on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats with kidney essence deficiency， and explore its protective effect on spermatogenic cells. Method:SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group， model group， whole raw product group， pharmacopoeia group and salt-processed product group， with 8 rats in each group. The kidney essence deficiency model was replicated by giving tripterygium glycoside tablets （the dose of 20 mg·kg^-1）. The flow cytometry （FCM） was used to analysis the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in testis， the immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） and Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax） in the testis. High performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was used to compare the contents of eight components （chlorogenic acid， ellagic acid， hyperoside， isoquercitrin， verbascoside， astragalin， kaempferol and schisandrin） in Wuzi Yanzong Wan made of different processed products， the mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile （A）-0.4% phosphoric acid aqueous solution （B） for gradient elution （0-5 min， 5%-15%A； 5-10 min， 15%-17%A； 10-25 min， 17%A； 25-35 min， 17%-26%A； 35-60 min， 26%-56%A）， the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm. Result:Compared with the model group， the total apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells， protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in each administration group were improved. Among them， the pharmacopoeia group and salt-processed product group had significant effects （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the improvement effect of the pharmacopoeia group and salt-processed product group was significantly better than that of the whole raw product group （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. The contents of chlorogenic acid， hyperoside， isoquercitrin and verbascoside in Wuzi Yanzong Wan were increased after the herbal medicines being processed with salt-water. The content of ellagic acid in the salt-processed product group increased， while it decreased in the pharmacopoeia group. The contents of verbascoside， astragalin， kaempferol and schisandrin in samples from the salt-processed product group were greater than those in samples from the pharmacopoeia group. Conclusion:Wuzi Yanzong Wan may reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rat testis by inhibiting the expression of Bax and promoting the expression of Bcl-2， and exert its effect of nourishing kidney and enriching essence. The enhanced anti-spermatogenic effect of Wuzi Yanzong Wan after processing may be related to the changes in chemical composition content after processing.

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.