Protective effects of scutellarin on type II diabetes mellitus-induced testicular damages related to reactive oxygen species/Bcl-2/Bax and reactive oxygen species/microcirculation/staving pathway in diabetic rat

J Diabetes Res. 2015:2015:252530. doi: 10.1155/2015/252530. Epub 2015 Mar 12.

Abstract

The goal of our study is to evaluate the effect of Scutellarin on type II diabetes-induced testicular disorder and show the mechanism of Scutellarin's action. We used streptozotocin and high-fat diet to establish type II diabetic rat model. TUNEL and haematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate the testicular apoptotic cells and morphologic changes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to measure the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor and blood vessel density in testes. Oxidative stress in testes and epididymis was tested by fluorescence spectrophotometer and ELISA. The expression of Bcl-2/Bax and blood flow rate in testicular vessels were measured by western blot and Doppler. Our results for the first time showed that hyperglycemia induced apoptotic cells and morphologic impairments in testes of rats, while administration of Scutellarin can significantly inhibit these damages. This effect of Scutellarin is controlled by two apoptotic triggers: ROS/Bcl-2/Bax and ROS/microcirculation/starving pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apigenin / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Body Weight
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glucuronates / therapeutic use*
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Male
  • Microcirculation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Streptozocin
  • Testis / drug effects*
  • Testis / pathology
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bax protein, rat
  • Glucuronates
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • scutellarin
  • Streptozocin
  • Apigenin