Protective effect of Wuzi Yanzong Prescription on testicular DNA damage in natural ageing rats based on P53/P21 and BER signal pathway / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the protective effect of Wuzi Yanzong Prescription (WYP) on DNA damage in testis of natural ageing rats based on P53/P21 signaling pathway and base excision repair (BER). Methods: SPF grade 16-month-old male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with eight rats in each group ageing model group, low and high dose of WYP groups (1 and 4 g/kg). In addition, 2-month-old SD male rats were used as adult control group. The ageing model group and the adult control group were fed with normal diet for four months. Rats in the WYP groups were given the medicated feed for four months. After fasting for 12 h, the rats were sacrificed. Then, the testes were immediately removed from rats. The expression and localization of DNA damage-related protein γH2AX and BER-related proteins OGG1, APE1, and XRCC1 were detected by immunofluorescence, and the content of 8-OHdG in testis was detected by ELISA. Also, the protein expression levels of p-P53 and P21 were detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the ageing model group, immunofluorescence results showed WYP significantly decreased the expression levels of DNA damage-related protein γH2AX and BER-related proteins OGG1, APE1, and XRCC1 in testis of natural ageing rats. ELISA results showed that WYP significantly downregulated 8-OHdG levels, compared with the ageing model group. Moreover, Western blotting results showed that WYP significantly decreased the protein expression levels of p-P53 and P21 of the testis when compared with the ageing model group. Conclusion: WYP reduced the DNA damage of testes in ageing related rats via P53/P21 and BER pathways.