弓形虫感染对雄性小鼠生殖系统影响的研究

Effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on reproductive function of male mice

为探究弓形虫对雄性小鼠生殖系统的影响,本研究将24只SPF级雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为感染组和对照组(n=12)。感染组小鼠腹腔注射弓形虫(RH株,103个/只),感染后7 d,眼球采血,颈椎脱臼迫杀小鼠,收集睾丸及附睾,经镜检观察并评估小鼠的生殖参数;采用ELISA法测定小鼠血清中T、LH、FSH、TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β表达量;测定小鼠睾丸组织中MDA、SOD、GSH和NO表达量;采用TUNEL法检测小鼠睾丸细胞凋亡情况;采用western blot检测睾丸内凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2和Bax表达量。结果显示:与对照组比较,感染组小鼠精子数量显著减少、精子畸形率显著增加;血清中T、LH和FSH表达量较对照组显著降低;睾丸组织内MDA和NO表达量显著增加,SOD和GSH表达量显著减少,血清中TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β表达量显著升高;睾丸细胞凋亡率显著增加,凋亡蛋白Bax表达量增加,Bcl-2表达量变化不明显。研究表明,弓形虫感染可能是通过增加细胞炎症反应、氧化应激和促进睾丸细胞凋亡等机制降低雄性小鼠的生殖功能。本研究首次对弓形虫感染雄性小鼠生殖系统的影响进行了研究,为制定防治弓形虫致雄性不育的策略提供参考依据。

To explore the effect of Toxoplasma gondii on the reproductive system of male mice, 24 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and infection group(n=12). The mice in the infection group were injected with Toxoplasma gondii(RH strain, 103/mouse. 7 days after infection, blood was collected from the eyeball, and the mice were killed by dislocation of cervical vertebra, and the testis and epididymis were collected. The reproductive parameters of mice were evaluated in this study. The expression levels of T, LH, FSH, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were determined by the ELISA assay. The expression of MDA, SOD, GSH and NO in the testis of mice were measured. TUNEL was used to detect the apoptosis of testis cells in mice.The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in testis were detected by western blot. The results showed that the number of sperm decreased and the abnormal rate of sperm increased significantly in the infected group compared with the control group. The expression of T,LH, and FSH in serum was significantly lower than those in the control group. The expression of MDA and NO in testis increased significantly, while the expression of SOD and GSH decreased significantly. The expression of serum TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β was significantly increased in the test group. The apoptosis rate of testis cells was significantly increased in infected mice. The expression of Bax was increased, while Bcl-2 expression was not significant. Previous studies have shown that Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces the reproductive function of male mice, and the possible mechanism is through increased the inflammatory response, oxidative stress and promotion of spermatogenic apoptosis. This study was the first to explore the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on the reproductive system of male mice, thus provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and control strategy of T. gondii induced male sterility.