Dendrobium nobile Lindl polysaccharides improve testicular spermatogenic function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Dendrobium nobile Lindl polysaccharides (DNLP) exhibited various biological functions. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of DNLP on testicular spermatogenic function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats in comparison with metformin. The blood glucose level was significantly increased and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) aggravated markedly in diabetic rats. The weight of testis and epididymis, and the sperm number and motility were decreased in the diabetic rats. The pathologic changes occurred in the spermatogenic tubules along with the decreased number of spermatogenic cells, downregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression and increased cell apoptosis in the testes. Compared with the model group, DNLP and metformin treatment significantly decreased the level of blood glucose, improved the HOMA-IR, and increased the weight of testis and epididymis, as well as the sperm number and sperm motility. Furthermore, the pathologic changes in the spermatogenic tubules improved significantly with increased number of spermatogenic cells, the upregulation of PCNA and SIRT1 and suppression of cell apoptosis in the testes. Collectively, our study for the first time examined the effects of DNLP on the male reproductive system of STZ-induced diabetic rats, and indicated that DNLP was protective against diabetes mellitus-induced testis injury via increasing the proliferation, inhibiting cell apoptosis and upregulating SIRT1 expression in testicular spermatogenic cells.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides Improve Testicular Spermatogenic Function in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on testicular spermatogenic function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Compared to the control group, blood glucose levels were significantly increased and the insulin resistance was markedly aggravated in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Further, the weight of testis and epididymis and the sperm number and motility were decreased in diabetic rats. Pathological changes were also observed in the spermatogenic tubules, along with a decreased number of spermatogenic cells, downregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, and increased cell apoptosis in the testes. Compared to the saline-treated diabetic rat group, metformin and LBP treatment significantly decreased the level of blood glucose and improved insulin resistance and testicular function. After treatment with metformin and LBP, the pathological changes in the spermatogenic tubules improved significantly, with an increase in the number of spermatogenic cells, upregulation of PCNA, and suppression of apoptosis in the testes. The expressions of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) in diabetic testes were also upregulated by metformin or LBP treatment. In summary, LBP exerted protective effects by increasing cell proliferation, inhibiting cell apoptosis, and regulating SIRT1/HIF-1α expression in the testes of diabetic rats.

Preparation of supported chitosan adsorbent with high adsorption capacity for Titan Yellow removal.

The supported chitosan (CS) adsorbent (FZCS) was successfully prepared by load CS on the BSCS supporter in this work. The adsorbent was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM and N2 adsorption-desorption techniques. The results showed the FZCS sorbent displayed the high removal rate (97.95%) for Titan Yellow (TY) anionic dye in aqueous solutions owing to its properties combining amino active functional amino group from the CS itself and higher specific surface area and mesoporous structure from the BSCS support. Isotherm data conform to the Langmuir isothermal model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 120.48 mg/g at 30 °C, suggesting monolayer adsorption of TY on the FZCS sorbent. The data were very well fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption capacity of FZCS could maintain about 70% after six cycles. The research indicated that FZCS would be a promising, eco-friendly and effective sorbent for anionic dye wastewater treatment in the near future.

Modification of chitin with high adsorption capacity for methylene blue removal.

Porous chitin sorbents (PChs) with different content of chitin, ranging from 0.9% to 3.5%, were prepared by gel method with CaBr2·xH2O/CH3OH solution and characterized by FT-IR, XRD and SEM. The adsorption isotherms and kinetic analysis of methylene blue (MB) onto PChs were studied. Experimental results illustrated lower crystallinity and more pores of PChs containing 3.5% chitin displayed higher adsorption capacity, the removal of MB was 79.8%. The adsorption equilibrium isotherm curve of MB onto PChs adsorbents conformed to the Freundlich equation. The PFO, PSO and Weber-Morris models were applied to fit with the adsorption kinetics. The results demonstrated the adsorption of MB might be the mass transfer of heterogeneous system and involve multiple diffusion steps. The adsorption capacity of PChs with 3.5% chitin can maintain 65% removal ratio of MB after being used six adsorption-desorption cycles. It was supposed that PChs may be a promising, cheap, environmentally friendly and efficient adsorbent for some dye wastewater treatment in the near future.