Effects of Wuzi Yanzong Pills on subacute aging-induced testicular trauma and AMPK/mTOR pathway in rats
10.3969/j.issn.1001-1528.2025.05.009
- VernacularTitle:五子衍宗丸对亚急性衰老大鼠睾丸功能损伤及AMPK/mTOR通路的影响
- Author:
Sheng MU
1
;
Hui-ming MA
1
;
Hong HUI
1
;
Jing PU
1
;
Xiao SU
1
Author Information
1. 宁夏医科大学生育力保持教育部重点实验室,宁夏少数民族医药现代化教育部重点实验室,中医学院,基础医学院,宁夏银川 750000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Wuzi Yanzong Pills;
subacute aging rats;
testicular function damage;
oxidative stress;
autophagy;
AMPK/mTOR pathway
- From:
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine
2025;47(5):1467-1476
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
AIM To investigate the effects of Wuzi Yanzong Pills on subacute aging-induced testicular trauma and AMPK/mTOR pathway in rats.METHODS Rat models of subacute aging were induced by 8-week subcutaneous injection of D-gal(200 mg/kg)into the rat neck,followed by their random assignment into the model group,the metformin group(0.3 g/kg)and the low-dose and high-dose Wuzi Yanzong Pills groups(0.54,2.16 g/kg),with 9 rats in each group,in contrast to the 8 intact rats of the normal group.And the corresponding drug was given by gavage for 4 weeks after modeling,after which the rats had their levels of serum T,FSH,SOD,LH,8-OHdG and MDA detected by ELISA;their pathological changes of testes observed by HE and β-galactosidase staining;and their expressions of aging-related proteins(p16,p21,p53),testicle secretory function-related proteins(CYP11A1,HSD17B3,STAR),autophagy-related proteins(p62,ATG5,Beclin-1,LC3B)and AMPK/mTOR pathway-related protein detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the model group displayed morphologically smaller testes and body surface;dry hair;overall atrophic testicular tissue structure;increased testicular protein expressions of γ-H2AX,p16,p21 andβ-galactosidase(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased p53 protein expression(P＜0.05);suggesting the modeling success.Compared with the model group,the high-dose Wuzi Yanzong Pills group shared decreased levels of serum 8-OHdG,MDA,FSH and LH(P＜0.01);increased levels of SOD and T(P＜0.01);improved sperm damage and almost morphologically normal testicular tissue;decreased testicular protein expressions of p16,p21,p53,p62 and p-mTOR(P＜0.01);and increased protein expressions of CYP11A1,HSD17B3,STAR,ATG5,Beclin-1,LC3B and p-AMPK(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Wuzi Yanzong Pills can improve the subacute aging-induced testicular injury and testicular function in rats by reducing their oxidative stress through improving their autophagy level and testicle antioxidant capacity.
