Drug Metabolism & Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Drug Metabolism & Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Chem Biol Interact. 2018 Jun 25;290:99-109. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.05.013. Epub 2018 May 26.
Protocatechuic acid (PCA; 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) is a phenolic compound widely found in many edible fruits, vegetables, grape wine and plant-derived beverages. The present study investigated the impact of PCA on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis of rats orally treated with PCA during the period of prepubertal development to adulthood. Protocatechuic acid was administered to prepubertal male rats at doses of 0, 5, 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg body for 45 consecutive days. The results revealed no treatment-related changes in the body weight gain and organo-somatic indices of the hypothalamus, testes, epididymis, prostate gland and seminal vesicle in rats administered with PCA when compared with control. However, prepubertal exposure to PCA significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione level whereas it markedly decreased biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the hypothalamus, testes and epididymis of the treated rats. Protocatechuic acid significantly increased circulatory concentrations of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone with concomitant increase in serum and intra-testicular testosterone levels. Moreover, PCA-treated rats exhibited significant increase in marker enzymes of testicular function namely acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase without statistically significant increase in spermatogenesis and sperm functional characteristics including sperm count, motility and viability. Light microscopic examination of the hypothalamus, testes and epididymis of rats treated with PCA showed histo-architectures similar to control. In conclusion, prepubertal exposure to PCA is safe and positively impacted reproductive function at sexual maturity in male rats. The observed beneficial effects of PCA is related to its anti-inflammatory and redox regulatory mechanisms.
原儿茶酸（PCA；3,4-二羟基苯甲酸）是一种广泛存在于许多食用水果、蔬菜、葡萄和植物衍生饮料中的酚类化合物。本研究探讨了 PCA 对青春期前发育至成年期经口给予 PCA 的大鼠下丘脑-垂体-睾丸轴的影响。将 PCA 以 0、5、10、50 和 100mg/kg 体重的剂量连续 45 天给予青春期前雄性大鼠。结果显示，与对照组相比，给予 PCA 的大鼠体重增加和下丘脑、睾丸、附睾、前列腺和精囊的器官-体指数无治疗相关变化。然而，青春期前暴露于 PCA 显著增强了抗氧化酶活性和谷胱甘肽水平，而显著降低了处理大鼠下丘脑、睾丸和附睾中炎症和氧化应激的生物标志物。PCA 显著增加了促黄体生成素和促卵泡激素的循环浓度，同时血清和睾丸内睾酮水平也升高。此外，PCA 处理的大鼠表现出睾丸功能的标记酶（如酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、乳酸脱氢酶和葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶）显著增加，而精子发生和精子功能特性（包括精子计数、活力和活力）没有统计学上的显著增加。给予 PCA 的大鼠下丘脑、睾丸和附睾的光镜检查显示组织形态与对照组相似。总之，青春期前暴露于 PCA 是安全的，并在雄性大鼠的性成熟时对生殖功能产生积极影响。PCA 观察到的有益作用与其抗炎和氧化还原调节机制有关。
