Chronic stress affects tyrosine phosphorylated protein expression and secretion of male rat epididymis

Abstract

Chronic stress (CS) is shown to decrease the semen quality with changed expression of tyrosine phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins in testicular and seminal tissues. However, the alterations of such proteins and fluid contents in the epididymis, producing sperm maturation factors, have never been reported. Sixteen adult rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 8). The control animals were not subjected to stressors whereas CS rats were immobilised within restraint cage (4 hr/day) before cold forced‐water swimming (15 min/day) for 60 days. Corticosterone, testosterone, blood glucose level (BGL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and biochemical components in epididymal fluid were assayed. Expressions of heat shock protein 70 (HSP‐70), androgen receptor (AR) and TyrPho protein were investigated in epididymal tissue and fluid. Significantly, CS increased the corticosterone and BGL but decreased testosterone and epididymal substance levels. MDA level in tail epididymal fluid and HSP‐70 expression in both regions of epididymal tissues and fluids, except in head epididymal fluid of CS were increased. Epididymal tissues showed the decrease of AR expression. Presence and changes of many TyrPho proteins were observed in CS. In conclusion, CS could affect functional proteins particularly TyrPho in epididymis, resulted in low semen quality.

Protective effects of Thai Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. pruriens seeds on sexual behaviors and essential reproductive markers in chronic unpredictable mild stress mice

“…In cauda epididymis, T-MP extract increased the expressions of many TyrPho proteins in CUMS animals, facilitating epididymosome biogenesis and physiological sperm maturation. 64 Moreover, T-MP increased such protein expressions (111, 83, 80, 75, 63, and 45 kDas) in sperm lysate of CUMS mice, indicating motility initiation prompted for capacitation and acrosome reaction in early process of fertilization. 65 …”

Protective effect of edaravone on rat testis after valproic acid treatment

“…In recent years, studies have shown that VPA has adverse effects on male reproductive system (sperm motility) in both male epileptic patients [6] and experimental animal model [7]. These adverse effects have been reported that the use of VPA together with chronic stress or diabetes give rise to altering the expression of specific proteins in seminal tissue and fluids for example androgen receptors and tyrosine phosphorylated proteins [8,9]. Furthermore, it is known to trigger reproductive impairment, which is mediated by elevation of testicular oxidative stress [10].…”

Seed extract of Thai Mucuna pruriens reduced male reproductive damage in rats induced by chronic stress

“…Previously, the testicular and sperm TyrPho expressions have been shown to be altered in CS rats (Arun et al. 2016 , 2018 , 2021 ). Numerous TyrPho proteins are involved in sperm production and physiology such as maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction (Sati et al.…”