title: Curcumin dose-dependently improves spermatogenic disorders induced by scrotal heat stress in mice.
abstract: Approximately 20% of couples worldwide are infertile and about half of these couples have male infertility. Therefore, it is important to develop effective strategies for preventing male infertility. In this study, we examined the effects and regulatory mechanisms of curcumin, an active ingredient in the traditional herbal treatment derived from the dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), on exogenous scrotal heat stress-induced testicular injuries in mice. Adult mice were orally administered three different doses of curcumin (20, 40, or 80 mg per kg per day) for 14 consecutive days and then subjected to transient scrotal heat stress at 43 °C for 20 min on day 7. The testes and blood of the mice were collected on day 14. Mice exposed to heat stress showed low testicular weight, severe vacuolization of seminiferous tubules followed by loss of spermatogenic cells, and the appearance of multinucleated giant cells and degenerative Leydig cells. In addition, great changes in oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, cytoplasmic SOD, mitochondrial SOD, and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase mRNAs), apoptosis (B-cell lymphoma-extra large and caspase 3 mRNAs), heat shock reaction (heat shock transcription factor-1 and transforming growth factor-β1 mRNAs) and androgen biosynthesis (testosterone concentration and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) were observed. However, all these testicular injuries induced by the scrotal hyperthermia were significantly improved by curcumin treatment (20, 40 and 80 mg kg(-1)) in a dose-dependent manner via its antioxidative, anti-apoptotic and androgen synthesis effects, indicating that it has the potential to prevent male infertility.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Geun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seul Gi
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sl Bi
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Lee Wha
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Gwon
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr and Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Geol
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea.
authors.forename: In-Jeoung
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, South Korea. synam@cbu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D000080662:Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
chemical_list: D003474:Curcumin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D000080662:Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D013739:Testosterone; D014157:Transcription Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2; C490017:Hsf1 protein, mouse