Echinacoside and Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) R. wight ameliorate bisphenol A-induced testicular and sperm damage in rats through gonad axis regulated steroidogenic enzymes

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMale 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.Aim of the studyTo investigate the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of CT and ECH against testicular and sperm toxicity.Materials and methodsCT was identified by 5.8 s 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsCT 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.

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