Department of Biophysics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Andrologia. 2013 Feb;45(1):56-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2012.01311.x. Epub 2012 May 28.
Oxidative stress is a leading cause of male infertility. To combat this, germ cells and spermatozoa are endowed with various enzymes, vitamins and proteins. Certain other components of food, including bioflavonoids, also provide protection against free radicals. This study analysed the effect of quercetin, a bioflavonoid, on male reproductive function in adult mice, after intraperitoneal treatment with varying concentrations of quercetin (2, 8 and 20 mg kg(-1) b.wt.) for 2 weeks. Quercetin increased the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in the testis with concomitant decrease in sperm count and motility in a dose-dependent manner. Activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and levels of reduced glutathione were found to be decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the levels of oxidised glutathione were increased leading to a shift in redox ratio. The testicular histomorphology was also altered dose dependently. Germ cell kinetic study revealed significant loss of various germ cell populations with increasing dose of quercetin. Interestingly, there was a reduction in germinal epithelium thickness concomitant with an increase in seminiferous tubule lumen diameter. In conclusion, the deleterious effects of quercetin on germ cells could be attributed to its pro-oxidant ability that might affect the Sertoli cell functions.
氧化应激是男性不育的主要原因之一。为了对抗这种情况，生殖细胞和精子被赋予了各种酶、维生素和蛋白质。食物的其他一些成分，包括类黄酮，也能提供自由基保护。本研究分析了槲皮素（一种类黄酮）对成年雄性小鼠生殖功能的影响，雄性小鼠经腹腔内给予不同浓度的槲皮素（2、8 和 20mgkg(-1)b.wt.），持续 2 周。槲皮素以剂量依赖性方式增加睾丸中活性氧和脂质过氧化的产生，同时精子计数和活力下降。过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶和还原型谷胱甘肽的活性呈剂量依赖性下降。同时，氧化型谷胱甘肽的水平增加，导致氧化还原比发生变化。睾丸组织形态也呈剂量依赖性改变。生殖细胞动力学研究显示，随着槲皮素剂量的增加，各种生殖细胞群显著减少。有趣的是，生精上皮的厚度减少，同时伴随着精小管腔直径的增加。总之，槲皮素对生殖细胞的有害影响可能归因于其促氧化剂的能力，这可能会影响支持细胞的功能。
