Suresh Sekar, Prithiviraj Elumalai, Prakash Seppan
Department of Anatomy, Dr Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, India.
Int J Androl. 2010 Feb;33(1):22-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2008.00949.x. Epub 2009 Jan 8.
Mucuna pruriens Linn., a leguminous plant, has been recognized as an aphrodisiac and spermatogenic agent. Protective efficacy of M. pruriens on reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathophysiological alterations in structural and functional integrity of epididymal sperm in aged Wister albino rat was analysed. Animals were grouped as groups I, II, III and IV, i.e. young (control), aged, aged treated with ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg b.w.) of M. pruriens and young rats treated with M. pruriens, respectively. At the end of the experimental period, i.e. after 60 days animals were sacrificed, epididymal sperm were collected and subjected to count, viability, motility, morphology and morphometric analysis. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, ROS, lipid peroxidation (LPO), DNA damage, chromosomal integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential were estimated. Results obtained from the aged animals showed significant reduction in sperm count, viability and motility, increased morphological damage and an increase in the number of sperm with cytoplasmic remnant, and these alterations were significantly reversed in M. pruriens treated group. Significant increase in LPO, HO and H(2)O(2) production and significant decline in the levels of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were observed in the aged animals. Supplementation of M. pruriens significantly reduced ROS and LPO production and significant increase in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels. There were significant DNA damage, loss of chromosomal integrity and increase in mitochondrial membrane permeability in aged rat sperm. This was significantly reduced in group III. Present observation indicates the antioxidant enhancing property, free radical quenching ability and spermatogenic efficacy of the M. pruriens. Collectively, sperm damage in ageing was significantly reduced by quenching ROS, improving antioxidant defence system and mitochondrial function.
刺毛黧豆（Mucuna pruriens Linn.）是一种豆科植物，被认为是一种壮阳药和生精剂。分析了刺毛黧豆对活性氧（ROS）诱导的老年Wistar白化大鼠附睾精子结构和功能完整性病理生理改变的保护作用。将动物分为I、II、III和IV组，即年轻（对照）组、老年组、用刺毛黧豆乙醇提取物（200mg/kg体重）处理的老年组和用刺毛黧豆处理的年轻大鼠组。在实验期结束时，即60天后处死动物，收集附睾精子并进行计数、活力、运动性、形态学和形态计量分析。评估了酶促和非酶促抗氧化剂、ROS、脂质过氧化（LPO）、DNA损伤、染色体完整性和线粒体膜电位。老年动物的结果显示精子计数、活力和运动性显著降低，形态损伤增加，有细胞质残余物的精子数量增加，而在刺毛黧豆处理组中这些改变得到显著逆转。在老年动物中观察到LPO、HO和H(2)O(2)产生显著增加，酶促和非酶促抗氧化剂水平显著下降。补充刺毛黧豆显著降低了ROS和LPO的产生，酶促和非酶促抗氧化剂水平显著增加。老年大鼠精子存在显著的DNA损伤、染色体完整性丧失和线粒体膜通透性增加。在III组中这一情况显著减轻。目前的观察表明刺毛黧豆具有抗氧化增强特性、自由基淬灭能力和生精功效。总体而言，通过淬灭ROS、改善抗氧化防御系统和线粒体功能，衰老过程中的精子损伤显著减轻。
