[Effects of Fructus lycii and Radix astragali on the function of sertoli cells in rat testes].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of the Chinese herbal medicines Fructus Lycii and Radix Astragali on the function of the Sertoli cells in the rat testis and their mechanisms.


METHODS
Sertoli cells from the testes of the SD rats aged 18 - 22 days were isolated and cultured. The effects of Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali and the combined administration of the two on the proliferation of Sertoli cells in vitro were detected by MTT assay, and their effects on the level of INHbetaB mRNA transcription in Sertoli cells in vitro were investigated in both normal environment and peroxide-damaging environment by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
The proliferation of Sertoli cells was promoted by either Fructus Lycii or Radix Astragali at high concentration (P < 0.05), and significantly promoted by the combined administration at high concentration (P <0.01). Sertoli cell INHbetaB transcription was significantly up-regulated by Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali and their combined administration in vitro (P < 0.01). When the level of INHbetaB mRNA in Sertoli cells significantly dropped (P < 0.01) in the presence of injury induced by peroxide (H2O2), it could be elevated by Radix Astragali (P < 0.05) and significantly up-regulated by Fructus Lycii or the combined administration in vitro (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Fructus Lycii, Radix Astragali and the combined administration of the two could promote and protect INHbetaB mRNA in Sertoli cells in vitro.
Zhao
Long-po
LP
Department of Pathology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050082, China. zlpb2003@163.com
Xu
Zheng
Z
Zhang
Mei
M
Sun
Hui-chen
HC
Tang
Fei
F
D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D032305:Lycium; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C422402:INHBB protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits