Effects of <i>Morinda officinalis</i> Polysaccharide on Experimental Varicocele Rats

Zhang, Lihong; Zhao, Xiaozhen; Wang, Feng; Lin, Qing; Wang, Wei

doi:10.1155/2016/5365291

Cited by 24 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In the present study, varicocele was reproduced in experimental animals by partial ligation of the left renal vein [3]. Varicocele rats showed a thin and atrophic epithelium with disorganized germ cells, reduced mean diameter of the tubules, and a low Johnsen's score, as previously described [3,7,8,24,25,[40][41][42]. These alterations were also slightly present in the contralateral testes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

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Nutraceutical Effects of Lycopene in Experimental Varicocele: An “In Vivo” Model to Study Male Infertility

et al. 2020

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Varicocele is one of the main causes of infertility in men. Oxidative stress and consequently apoptosis activation contribute to varicocele pathogenesis, worsening its prognosis. Natural products, such as lycopene, showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in several experimental models, also in testes. In this study we investigated lycopene effects in an experimental model of varicocele. Male rats (n = 14) underwent sham operations and were administered with vehicle (n = 7) or with lycopene (n = 7; 1 mg/kg i.p., daily). Another group of animals (n = 14) underwent surgical varicocele. After 28 days, the sham and 7 varicocele animals were euthanized, and both operated and contralateral testes were weighted and processed. The remaining rats were treated with lycopene (1 mg/kg i.p., daily) for 30 days. Varicocele rats showed reduced testosterone levels, testes weight, Bcl-2 mRNA expression, changes in testes structure and increased malondialdehyde levels and BAX gene expression. TUNEL (Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) assay showed an increased number of apoptotic cells. Treatment with lycopene significantly increased testosterone levels, testes weight, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression, improved tubular structure and decreased malondialdehyde levels, BAX mRNA expression and TUNEL-positive cells. The present results show that lycopene exerts beneficial effects in testes, and suggest that supplementation with the tomato-derived carotenoid might be considered a novel nutraceutical strategy for the treatment of varicocele and male infertility.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Hormonal dysfunction was observed in varicocele, and is involved in the pathophysiology of the disease, being closely linked to oxidative stress and apoptosis [1,2,41,45]. Indeed, spermatogenesis is a testosterone-dependent process, and hormonal imbalance can be a cause of impairment of spermatogenesis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutraceutical Effects of Lycopene in Experimental Varicocele: An “In Vivo” Model to Study Male Infertility

et al. 2020

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“…The aqueous extract of M. officinalis increases sperm count and germ cell numbers in the seminiferous tubules of rats (Song, Wang, & Wang, ; Wang et al, ). Spermatogenesis was improved, and the secretion of GnRH was stimulated in experimental varicocele rats treated with water‐soluble polysaccharides obtained from M. officinalis (Zhang, Hao, Wang, Lin, & Wang, ; Zhu et al, ; Zhu, Zhao, Huang, Wang, & Wang, ). Morinda officinalis extract also attenuated seminiferous epithelium structures and inhibited germ cell apoptosis (Zhu et al, ).…”

Section: Morinda Officinalismentioning

confidence: 99%

Plants in the management of male infertility

Onuah

Singh

2020

Andrologia

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This review attempts to collate existing data and provide the perspectives for future studies on the effects of plants on the male gonads. For many of these medicinal plants such as Lepidium meyenii, Rupus coreanus, Tribulus terrestres, Panax ginseng, Petasites japonicas, Apium graveolens, Eurycoma longifólia, Pedalium murex, Corchorus depressus, Mucuna pruriens, Astragalus membranaceus, Nigella sativa, Crataegus monogyna, Fagara tessmannii, Phaleria macrocarpa, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Cynomorium songaricum and Morinda officinalis, the mechanism of actions of their active principles and crude extracts has been shown in both laboratory animals, in vitro, and human studies, and includes their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, spermatogenesis‐inducing, aphrodisiac, smooth muscle relaxing and androgenic properties. Several active chemical leads including glucosinolates, anthocyanins, protodioscin, ginsenosides, sesquiterpenes, phyto‐oestrogens, quassinoids, diosgenin, thymoquinone, proanthocyanidins and bajijiasu isolated from these plants are known to have target effects on the testis, but efforts have been limited in their application at the clinical level. There still appear to be many more extracts of medicinal plants that have not been characterised to determine the phytochemicals unique to them that have target effects on the gonads. Further, collaborative efforts at isolating pro‐drug candidates from medicinal plants for studies at the molecular, cellular and clinical level towards elucidating their mechanisms of action on the testes are therefore warranted in the light of the current male fertility crisis.

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“…Dried M. officinalis roots were purchased from a local herb market, and MOPs were extracted via water extraction and alcohol precipitation [ 32 ], as previously described [ 28 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…M. officinalis polysaccharides (MOPs), which are important constituents of the roots of M. Officinalis , are water-soluble and exist mainly in water extracts of M. officinalis . The results of our previous study suggested that MOPs promoted spermatogenesis and increased serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) levels in experimental VCs [ 28 ], indicating that MOPs may be effective in regulating hypothalamic GnRH pulses. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of MOPs on GnRH synthesis in VC progression and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these effects to determine whether MOPs can be used to treat or prevent VCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morinda Officinalis Polysaccharides Stimulate Hypothalamic GnRH Secretion in Varicocele Progression

Zhu

Huang

Wang

et al. 2017

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Varicoceles (VCs) are the predominant cause of male infertility and are a risk factor for chronic venous disease. Morinda officinalis (M. officinalis) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to tonify the kidney and strengthen yang. In this study, we evaluated the effects of water-soluble polysaccharides extracted from M. officinalis (MOPs) on gonadotropin-release hormone (GnRH) secretion in a classic experimental left VC (ELV) rat model. Intragastric administration of MOPs at a dose ranging from 50 mg kg−1 to 100 mg kg−1 facilitated improvements in sperm parameters and seminiferous epithelial structures, modulated serum hormone profiles, and stimulated GnRH synthesis and release in the hypothalamus. MOPs also promoted spinogenesis and functional spine maturation in the arcuate nuclei (Arc), wherein they acted mainly on Kiss1 and GnRH neurons. Moreover, MOP-mediated Kisspeptin-GPR54 pathway upregulation and MAPK phosphorylation activation may have been responsible for increases in GnRH synthesis and release. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that MOPs were effective in stimulating GnRH secretion, possibly by upregulating the Kiss1/GPR54 pathway and enhancing synaptic plasticity, and that MOPs can serve as a therapy for early VCs.

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Effects of Morinda officinalis Polysaccharide on Experimental Varicocele Rats

Cited by 24 publications

References 51 publications

Nutraceutical Effects of Lycopene in Experimental Varicocele: An “In Vivo” Model to Study Male Infertility

Nutraceutical Effects of Lycopene in Experimental Varicocele: An “In Vivo” Model to Study Male Infertility

Plants in the management of male infertility

Morinda Officinalis Polysaccharides Stimulate Hypothalamic GnRH Secretion in Varicocele Progression

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