title: Enhanced Protective Effects of Combined Treatment withβ-Carotene and Curcumin against Hyperthermic Spermatogenic Disorders in Mice.
abstract: Scrotal hyperthermia leads to oxidative stress and apoptosis in spermatogenic cells, which subsequently causes male infertility. In this study, we examined the effects ofβ-carotene and/or curcumin on heat-stress- (HS-) induced testicular injuries in mice. ICR male mice (8 weeks old) were consecutively treated withβ-carotene (10 mg/kg) and/or curcumin (20 mg/kg) orally once a day for 14 days and then subjected to single exposure with scrotal HS at 43°C for 15 min on day 7. HS induced a significant reduction in testicular weight, appearance of multinucleated giant cells, and desquamation of germ cells in destructive seminiferous tubules, as well as degenerative Leydig cells. Moreover, HS reduced the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and mRNA levels of mitochondrial SOD, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, B-cell lymphoma-extra-large, and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, with increases in lipid peroxidation levels and mRNA levels of BCL2-associated X protein and caspase-3 relative to those of the control group. However, these changes were significantly recovered by combined treatment withβ-carotene and curcumin after HS. These findings indicate that the combined treatment withβ-carotene and curcumin might be a valuable protective agent to ameliorate hyperthermic spermatogenic disorders via its potent antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and androgen synthetic effects.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin 130-118, China.
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seul Gi
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Lee Wha
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Gwon
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Geol
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yon
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center and University of Ulsan, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Jeoung
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Beom Jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Won
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Center, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Yoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7576-6543
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000187:drug effects; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
chemical_list: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D003474:Curcumin; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2