左卡尼汀经β-catenin信号通路保护环磷酰胺所致大鼠睾丸损伤

Protective effects of L-carnitine on testicular injury induced by cyclophosphamide in rats throughβ-catenin signaling

目的探讨左卡尼汀(L-carnitine,LC)对环磷酰胺(cyclophosphamide,CP)所致大鼠睾丸损伤的保护作用及其机制。方法将18只雄性大鼠随机分为3组:生理盐水(NS)组,CP组,CP+LC组,腹腔注射给药。观测大鼠体重、精神等一般情况及睾丸重量,采用HE染色检测睾丸损伤情况,免疫组化和Western blot法检测睾丸内β-catenin的表达。结果CP组大鼠睾丸重量低于NS组(P<0.05),CP+LC组大鼠睾丸重量比CP组有所恢复(P<0.05);HE染色显示CP组和CP+LC组比NS组生精细胞层数减少(P<0.05),但CP+LC组较CP组生精细胞层数增多(P<0.05);免疫组化和Western blot均显示CP组β-catenin的表达量高于NS组(P<0.05),CP+LC组β-catenin表达量低于CP组(P<0.05)。结论左卡尼汀可下调β-catenin信号进而对环磷酰胺所致大鼠睾丸损伤起到保护作用,可能对抗瘤药引起的男性生育障碍具有潜在的治疗意义。

objective To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of L-carnitine(LC)on cyclophosphamide(CP)induced testicular injury in rats.Methods Eighteen male rats were randomly divided into three groups and received intraperitoneal injection of appropriate drug(a Normal saline group,a CP group,a CP+LC group).General conditions,weight and testicular weight of rats were recorded.The testicular injury condition was detected by HE staining,and the expression ofβ-catenin in testis was detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.Results The testicular weight in the CP group was lower than that of the NS group(P<0.05).While the testicular weight recovered in the CP+LC group(P<0.05).HE staining result showed that the number of spermatogenic cell layers in CP group decreased significantly than that of the NS group(P<0.05),but the number of spermatogenic cell layers of the CP+LC group was higher than that of the CP group(P<0.05).Immunohistochemistry and Western blot result showed that the expression ofβ-catenin in the CP group was higher than that of the NS group(P<0.05)while the expression ofβ-catenin in the CP+LC group was lower than that of the CP group(P<0.05).Conclusions L-carnitine can protect testicular injury in rats which induced by Cyclophosphamide through down-regulatedβ-catenin signaling,which makes a potential therapeutic significance for male fertility disorder caused by antitumor drugs.