title: Echinacoside and Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) R. wight ameliorate bisphenol A-induced testicular and sperm damage in rats through gonad axis regulated steroidogenic enzymes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male infertility has been increasing over the last decades and being a pressing health problem nowadays. Cistanche tubulosa (CT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to boost male sexual function. Echinacoside (ECH) is one of the major compounds exist in CT and might be a potential agent to protect testis and sperm injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of CT and ECH against testicular and sperm toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT was identified by 5.8s gene sequencing. The major compositions (echinacoside and acteoside) of CT were quantified by HPLC method. The adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to BPA, CT or ECH for 42 consecutive days. The sperm parameters were observed by dark-field microscope; serum hormone levels (FSH, LH and testosterone) were tested by radio immunosorbent; LDH-x activity were evaluated using commercial kits; the expressions of the key steroidogenic enzymes were evaluated by qRT-PCR, heat map, immunofluorescence and western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CT and ECH treatments against BPA-induced testicular and sperm toxicity showed that CT and ECH have reversed BPA-induced abnormality in sperm characteristics, testicular structure and normalized serum testosterone. This was concomitant with the increased expression of LDH-x as well as the key steroidogenic enzymes including StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD and CYP17A1, suggesting that CT and ECH enhanced testosterone biosynthesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT and ECH attenuated poor sperm quality and testicular toxicity in rats through up-regulation steroidogenesis enzymes and ECH is the active compound of CT as a potential natural reproductive agent.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, Qinling-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C.I.C., College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China.
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, Qinling-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C.I.C., College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Xinping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, Qinling-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C.I.C., College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China. Electronic address: zhang.xy@nwsuaf.edu.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D031671:Cistanche / Q000737:chemistry*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006027:Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D004798:Enzymes; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006027:Glycosides; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D010636:Phenols; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; C060297:echinacoside; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Bisphenol A (BPA); Cistanche tubulosa; Echinacoside; Sperm; Testis