Beta-carotene prevents the spermatogenic disorders induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis in mice

Yon, Jung-Min; Kim, Jae Seung; Lin, Chunmei; Park, Seul Gi; Gwon, Lee Wha; Lee, Jong-Geol; Baek, In-Jeoung; Nahm, Sang-Seop; Nam, Sang-Yoon

doi:2019.59.2.59

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 59(2); 2019 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2019;59(2):59-67.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2019.59.2.59 Published online July 15, 2019.

Beta-carotene prevents the spermatogenic disorders induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis in mice

Jung-Min Yon¹, Jae Seung Kim¹, Chunmei Lin², Seul Gi Park¹, Lee Wha Gwon¹, Jong-Geol Lee¹, In-Jeoung Baek³, Sang-Seop Nahm⁴, Sang-Yoon Nam¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University
²College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University
³Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine
⁴College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University

Correspondence: Sang-Yoon Nam, Tel: 82-43-261-2596, Fax: 82-43-271-3246,
Email: synam@cbu.ac.kr

Abstract

We investigated whether ${eta}$-carotene (${eta}-CA$) or ellagic acid (EA), originating from various fruits and vegetables, has a preventive effect against male infertility induced by exogenous scrotal hyperthermia. ICR adult mice were intraperitoneally treated with 10 mg/kg of ${eta}-CA$ or EA daily for 13 days consecutively. During this time, mice were subjected to transient scrotal heat stress in a water bath at $43^{circ}C$ for 20 min on day 7, and their testes and blood were obtained on day 14 for histopathologic and biochemical analyses. Heat stress induced significant testicular weight reduction, germ cell loss and degeneration, as well as abnormal localization of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatogenic and Leydig cells. Heat stress also altered the levels of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation, SOD activity, and PHGPx, MnSOD, and $HIF-1{alpha}$ mRNAs), apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-xL, caspase 3, $NF-{kappa}B$, and $TGF-{eta}1$ mRNAs), and androgen biosynthesis (serological testosterone concentration and $3{eta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA) in testes. These changes were all improved significantly by ${eta}-CA$ treatment, but only slightly improved by EA treatment. These findings indicate that ${eta}-CA$, through modulations of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and androgen biosynthesis, is a potent preventive agent against testicular injuries induced by scrotal hyperthermia.

Key Words: ${eta}$-carotene, ellagic acid, spermatogenic disorders, scrotal hyperthermia, testes