title: Antagonistic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on the impaired reproductive system of male rats induced by local subchronic exposure to 60Co-γ irradiation.
abstract: Lycium barbarum, a famous Chinese medicinal herb, has a long history of use in traditional medicine as an antioxidant and to promote sexual fertility. Polysaccharides are the most important functional constituents in L. barbarum fruits. In this study, male rats were exposed to subchronic (60)Co-γ irradiation to investigate the effects of LBP on sperm quantity and motility, sexual ability, serum hormone levels, oxidative status and testicular tissue DNA damage on days 1, 7 and 14 of treatment. It was found that LBP significantly increased the sperm quantity and motility, shortened the erection, capture and ejaculation latencies, increased the number of captures and ejaculations, and improved the sexual ability of male rats. LBP also played a significant role in the recovery of serum testosterone levels, increased superoxide dismutase activity, decreased malondialdehyde levels, promoted oxidative balance and rescued testicular DNA damage. In conclusion, LBP has significant protective effects against damage induced by local subchronic exposure to (60)Co-γ irradiation, allowing rats to achieve near-complete recovery with LBP treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China. lq_whu@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuanhai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yinzhu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C500223:lycium barbarum polysaccharide; D013739:Testosterone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase