title: Protective effect of Fructus Lycii polysaccharides against time and hyperthermia-induced damage in cultured seminiferous epithelium.
abstract: Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae) is a Chinese medicinal plant whose fruits (Fructus Lycii) are used by Chinese physicians for treatment of infertility. However, the active ingredients and the mechanism of action underlying Lycium's fertility-facilitating effects remain unknown. Here we report that Fructus Lycii polysaccharides (FLPS) inhibit time- and hyperthermia-induced structural damage in murine seminiferous epithelium, in vitro. Moreover, we found that FLPS delayed apoptosis in this system, both at normothermic and hyperthermic culture conditions. Oxidative stress was reported to be a major cause of structural degradation and apoptosis in hyperthermic testes, and thus the protective effect of FLPS could implicate an antioxidant mechanism of action. To test this hypothesis we assayed the effect of FLPS on ultraviolet light-induced lipid peroxidation, and cytochrome c reduction by free radicals. We found that FLPS is a potent inhibitor of both of these reactions. Together, these results demonstrate the protective effect of FLPS on time- and hyperthermia-induced testicular degeneration in vitro, indicate the potential mechanism of action for this protective effect, and provide a scientific basis for the traditional use of this plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Ningxia Medical College, Yinchuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanrong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xinsheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bojanowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D005334:Fever; D005638:Fruit; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D032305:Lycium; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011134:Polysaccharides; D020011:Protective Agents