Shenling Baizhu San improves spermatogenic dysfunction in hyperuricemia mice by regulating Sirt3/Nrf2 to inhibit testicular ferroptosis

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The effect of hyperuricemia (HUA) on testicular spermatogenesis cannot be ignored. The classical Chinese medicine compound Shenling Baizhu San (SLBZS) can reduce uric acid and improve testicular spermatogenesis, while researchers have not well explored the related pathology and pharmacodynamic mechanism have.

Aims of study: To investigate whether the dysfunction of testicular spermatogenesis caused by HUA and the therapeutic effect of SLBZS are related to testicular cell ferroptosis.

Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice and C57BL/6 background Sirt3^-/- mice were induced by oxazinate potassium (OXO), and HUA spermatogenic dysfunction mice model were constructed and treated with SLBZS. Sperm quality detection and testicular histopathology served for evaluating the protective mechanism of SLBZS against testicular spermatogenesis in HUA mice. Biochemical detection, transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate ferroptosis level of testicular cells. Western blot analysis assisted in verifying the expression of the corresponding pathway proteins.

Results: The testes of mice with HUA spermatogenic dysfunction were subjected to OXO-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis, and the Sirt3/Nrf2 pathway-related protein expressions were changed. SLBZS improved the testes of mice with HUA spermatogenic dysfunction in terms of their spermatogenic function, oxidative stress and ferroptosis, and promoted Sirt3/Nrf2 antioxidant pathway-related proteins to be expressed. The analysis of Sirt3^-/- mice was modeled and dosed, and it was found that SLBZS could not improve the spermatogenic function, oxidative stress and ferroptosis of Sirt3-deficient model mice' testes.

Conclusions: OXO-induced spermatogenic dysfunction in HUA is associated with ferroptosis of testicular cells. SLBZS can be used for treating spermatogenic dysfunction in HUA possibly by activating Sirt3/Nrf2 signaling pathway, which inhibits ferroptosis due to oxidative stress.