title: Hydrogen-rich saline attenuates spinal cord hemisection-induced testicular injury in rats.
abstract: To study how hydrogen-rich saline (HS) promotes the recovery of testicular biological function in a hemi-sectioned spinal cord injury (hSCI) rat model, a right hemisection was performed at the T11-T12 of the spinal cord in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into four groups: normal group; vehicle group: sham-operated rats administered saline; hSCI group: subjected to hSCI and administered saline; HRST group: subjected to hSCI and administered HS. Hind limb neurological function, testis index, testicular morphology, mean seminiferous tubular diameter (MSTD) and seminiferous epithelial thickness (MSET), the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), mitofusin-2 (MFN-2), and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1), cell ultrastructure, and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells were studied. The results indicated that hSCI significantly decreased the hind limb neurological function, testis index, MSTD, and MSET, and induced severe testicular morphological injury. The MFN-2 level was decreased, and HO-1 and HMGB-1 were overexpressed in testicular tissues. In addition, hSCI accelerated the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the ultrastructural damage of cells in the hypophysis and testis. After HS administration, all these parameters were considerably improved, and the characteristics of hSCI testes were similar to those of normal control testes. Taken together, HS administration can promote the recovery of testicular biological function by anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic action. More importantly, HS can inhibit the hSCI-induced ultrastructural changes in gonadotrophs, ameliorate the abnormal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis, and thereby promote the recovery of testicular injury. HS administration also inhibited the hSCI-induced ultrastructural changes in testicular spermatogenic cells, Sertoli cells and interstitial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Chang-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Atherosclerosis in Universities of Shandong, Taishan Medical University, Institute of Atherosclerosis, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Guo-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Nursing Teaching, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Ya-Zhuo
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao-Shen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Run-Ting
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue-Er
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Immunology, Taishan Medical University, Tai-an City, PR China.
authors.forename: Wen-Gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D015870:Gene Expression; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D000068357:Saline Waters; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D006859:Hydrogen; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; C489710:Mfn2 protein, rat
keywords: hemisectioned spinal cord injury; hydrogen-rich saline; rat; spermatogenic cell; testis