title: The effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on the male rats׳ reproductive system and spermatogenic cell apoptosis exposed to low-dose ionizing irradiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lycium barbarum, a Solanaceous defoliated shrubbery, has been used as a kind of traditional Chinese herbal medicines for thousands of years. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is the main bioactive component of Lycium barbarum. The aim of this study was to investigate the radioresistant effect of LBP on the damage of male rats' reproductive system and spermatogenic cells caused by low-dose (60)Co-γ irradiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups and treated with irradiation and/or LBP: normal control group, irradiation control group 1, irradiation control group 2, irradiation control group 3, LBP + irradiation group 1, LBP + irradiation group 2, and LBP + irradiation group 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is found that mating function and testis organ coefficient in LBP + irradiation groups were significantly better than that of the corresponding irradiation control groups. LBP significantly up-regulates the expression of Bcl-2 while down-regulating the expression of Bax. And LBP also plays an important role in prevention mitochondrial membrane potential decrease. In addition, LBP can significantly reduce spermatogenic cells apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBP has obvious protective effect on the male rats' reproductive function and spermatogenic dysfunction induced by irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 115, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China. Electronic address: drluoqiong@sina.com.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 115, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 115, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 115, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 115, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Qihan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 115, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C500223:lycium barbarum polysaccharide
keywords: Bcl-2/Bax; Ionizing irradiation; Lycium barbarum polysaccharides; Reproductive system; Spermatogenic cell