Ursolic acid attenuates oligospermia in busulfan-induced mice by promoting motor proteins
This investigation scrutinizes the implications and mechanistic underpinnings of ursolic acid's effect on busulfan-induced oligospermia in mouse models. A single intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 30mg/kg of busulfan induced oligospermia, and two weeks later, the mice were treated with varied dosages of ursolic acid (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg w.t., respectively) daily for four consecutive weeks. Following this, a meticulous analysis of epididymal sperm parameters encompassing concentration and motility were undertaken using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. The histopathology of the mice testes was performed utilizing hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the cytoskeleton regeneration of the testicular tissues was analyzed via immunofluorescent staining. Serum hormone levels (including testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone) and reactive oxygen species levels (inclusive of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde) were gauged employing corresponding specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Differentially expressed genes of testicular mRNA between oligospermia and ursolic acid treatments were identified by RNA sequencing analysis. The results revealed that a dosage of 50 mg/kg ursolic acid treatment could increase the concentration of epididymal sperm in oligospermia mice, promote the recovery of testicular morphology, regulate hormone levels and ameliorate oxidative damage. The mechanism research results indicated that ursolic acid increased the expression level of genes related to motor proteins in oligospermia mice. Overall design: Twenty five mice were randomly divided into five groups, each consisting of 5 individuals: normal group, BUS group, BUS + ULA low dose group, BUS + ULA medium dose group and BUS + ULA high dose group.