Ursolic acid generates symplasts in rat spermatogenic clones

Abstract

Treatment of ursolic acid to Wistar strain male albino rats resulted in severe disruption of spermatogenesis. The most diagnostic change in the seminiferous epithelium was the opening up of the intercellular bridges between the male germ cell clones, resulting in the formation of symplasts. In this property, ursolic acid is comparable to cytochalasin D. Symplasts are exfoliated from the Sertoli cell. The Leydig cells are hypertrophied. Cauda epididymidal sperm motility was impaired, and several sperm exhibited abnormalities. Among the epididymal epithelial cell types, the clear cells of the caput as well as the cauda appeared to be increased in abundance and were rounded‐up. The results indicate that from the male reproductive toxicological point of view, caution is required in using ursolic acid as a curative/protective agent. However, the testicular and epididymal effects of ursolic acid may be applied in male antifertility/contraception. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ursolic Acid Simultaneously Targets Multiple Signaling Pathways to Suppress Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cells

“…COX-2 expression has been shown to upregulate the EGFR, PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling, thereby induce tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion [24], [25]. To determine whether the UA-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation is mediated through modulation of the COX-2 signaling in colon cancer cells, we evaluated the effect of UA on COX-2 expression at protein and mRNA levels by Western blot and RT-PCR.…”

“…Previous study has revealed that UA has the potential of sperm motility inhibition and can serve as a topical vaginal contraceptive [24], [25]. Specifically, it causes breaking of bridges in between cells that are soon to be sperm, and the damaged cells then collect to form symplasts in the seminiferous tubules that are associated with male infertility.…”

Aspects of the male reproductive toxicity/male antifertility property of andrographolide in albino rats: effect on the testis and the cauda epididymidal spermatozoa

“…The multinucleate giant cells produced due to the action of andrographolide are comparable to the symplasts generated by cytochalasin D (Weber et al, 1985;Ren and Russell, 1991) and ursolic acid (Akbarsha et al, 1998). Symplasts are generated due to druginduced opening up of the intercellular bridges of the male germ cells clones (Weber et al, 1985).…”

Terpenoids as Potential Geroprotectors

“…Undesirable effects of triterpenoids can be associated with its impact on reproductive functions. For example, consumption of ursolic acid by rats in an amount of 5 mg per kg of body weight suppresses spermatogenesis [272]. Additionally, triterpenes and triterpenoids can lead to gastrointestinal upsets [273].…”