Vitexin alleviates streptozotocin-induced sexual dysfunction and fertility impairments in male mice via modulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis. (5th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Zhi-Mei; Liu, Ning; Jiang, Ya-Ping; Yang, Jia-Mei; Zheng, Jie; Sun, Miao; Li, Yu-Xiang; Sun, Tao; Wu, Jing; Yu, Jian-Qiang
• Is Part Of: Chemico-biological interactions. Volume 297(2019)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 129
• Publication Date: 2019-01-05
• Subjects: Vitexin -- Diabetic mice -- Sexual dysfunction -- Fertility impairments -- Hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis; DM Diabetes mellitus -- STZ Streptozotocin -- GnRH Gonadotropin–releasing hormone -- T Testosterone -- FSH Follicular stimulating hormone -- LH Luteinizing hormone -- ICR Institute of cancer research -- SC Sildenafil citrate -- ML Mounting latency -- IL Intromission latency -- PEI Post–ejaculatory interval -- EL ejaculatory latency -- MF mount frequency -- IF intromission frequency -- ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay -- H&E Hematoxylin and eosin -- TEM Transmission electron microscopy; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Toxicological chemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Toxicologie biochimique -- Périodiques; 572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.10.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2797

Abstract

Abstract: Diabetes-associated sexual dysfunction and fertility impairments are major secondary complications in diabetic patients and animal models. Natural herbs are important sources of therapeutic agents for diabetic complications. This study investigated the effect of vitexin on male sexual dysfunction and fertility impairments in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg STZ for 5 consecutive days in mice. Vitexin (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg) and Sildenafil citrate (SC, 5 mg/kg) were administered daily for 62 days after the induction of diabetes. The parameters of sexual behavior and fertility were analyzed. The reproductive organ weight, sperm motility, and viability of the treated mice were examined. Testicular histopathological alterations were detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate serum hormonal levels. Results showed that 40 mg/kg vitexin significantly improved the sexual behavior and fertility levels compared with the diabetic group. Moreover, vitexin (20 or 40 mg/kg) significantly increased reproductive organ weight and improved testicular pathological structure damage. Meanwhile, sperm analysis demonstrated that vitexin significantly restored sperm quality in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, ELISA data showed that vitexin significantly increased the serum testosterone (T), follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels but decreased the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) level to different degrees. These findings suggest that vitexin ameliorates sexual dysfunction and fertility impairments in male diabetic mice possibly by modulating the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Vitexin ameliorates diabetes-induced reduction of sexual dysfunction behavior and fertility impairments in male mice. Vitexin reverses diabetes-induced testicular histological structure and morphological damages of testis. Vitexin restores poor sperm parameters including sperm motility and sperm viability in male mice. The mechanism may be through by modulating hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.