Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2023 Sep;79:127216. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127216. Epub 2023 May 19.
Apoptotic and oxido-inflammatory pathways have been found to be up-regulated in lead acetate poisoning which has been associated to endothelial and testicular dysfunctions. It is yet uncertain, nevertheless, if treatment with Ginkgo biloba supplements (GBS), a flavonoid-rich natural product can lessen the adverse effects of lead on endothelial and testicular functions. This study investigated the impact of Ginkgo biloba supplementation on lead-induced endothelial and testicular dysfunctions.
The animals were treated with GBS (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg orally) for 14 days following oral exposure to lead acetate (25 mg/kg) for 14 days. After euthanasia, blood samples, epididymal sperm, testes, and aorta were collected. The quantities of the hormones (testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as the anti-apoptotic, oxidative, nitrergic, inflammatory markers, were then determined using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and conventional biochemical methods.
GBS reduced lead-induced oxidative stress by increasing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) in endothelium and testicular cells. Normal testicular weight was restored by GBS which also decreased endothelial endothelin-I and increased nitrite levels. TNF-α and IL-6 were decreased while Bcl-2 protein expression was enhanced. Lead-induced alterations in reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, and testosterone) were also restored to normal.
According to our result, using Ginkgo biloba supplement prevented lead from causing endothelial and testicular dysfunction by raising pituitary-testicular hormone levels, boosting Bcl-2 protein expression and lowering oxidative and inflammatory stress in the endothelium and testes.
已发现凋亡和氧化炎症途径在醋酸铅中毒中上调，这与内皮和睾丸功能障碍有关。然而，目前尚不确定银杏叶提取物（GBS）等富含类黄酮的天然产物的治疗是否可以减轻铅对内皮和睾丸功能的不良影响。本研究调查了银杏叶补充剂对铅诱导的内皮和睾丸功能障碍的影响。
动物在口服醋酸铅（25mg/kg）14 天后，每天口服 GBS（50mg/kg 和 100mg/kg）14 天。安乐死后，采集血液样本、附睾精子、睾丸和主动脉。使用免疫组织化学、ELISA 和常规生化方法测定激素（睾酮、卵泡刺激素（FSH）和黄体生成素（LH））以及抗凋亡、氧化、硝化、炎症标志物的含量。
GBS 通过增加抗氧化酶过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的水平，降低内皮细胞和睾丸细胞中的丙二醛（MDA），减轻了铅诱导的氧化应激。GBS 恢复了正常的睾丸重量，还降低了内皮素-1 和增加了硝酸盐水平。TNF-α 和 IL-6 减少，Bcl-2 蛋白表达增加。铅诱导的生殖激素（FSH、LH 和睾酮）改变也恢复正常。
根据我们的结果，使用银杏叶补充剂通过提高垂体-睾丸激素水平、增强 Bcl-2 蛋白表达和降低内皮和睾丸中的氧化和炎症应激，预防了铅引起的内皮和睾丸功能障碍。
