β-carotene rescues busulfan disrupted spermatogenesis through elevation in testicular antioxidant capability

Ma, D., Han, P., Song, M., Zhang, H., Shen, W., Huang, G., Zhao, M., Sun, Q., Zhao, Y. and Min, L. (2021) β-carotene rescues busulfan disrupted spermatogenesis through elevation in testicular antioxidant capability. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12 . Art. 593953.

Abstract

β-carotene, precursor of vitamin A, is an excellent antioxidant with many beneficial properties. It is a lipid-soluble antioxidant and a very effective quencher of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to reduce the oxidative stress. In contrast to vitamin A, β-carotene is not toxic even consumed in higher amount when it is delivered from natural plant products. Recently, we found that β-carotene acts as a potential antioxidant in the oocyte to improve its quality. Even though many studies have been reported that β-carotene has the beneficial contribution to the ovarian development and steroidogenesis, it is unknown the effects of β-carotene on the spermatogenesis. This investigation aimed to explore the hypothesis that β-carotene could improve spermatogenesis and the underlying mechanism. And we found that β-carotene rescued busulfan disrupted spermatogenesis in mouse with the increase in the sperm concentration and motility. β-carotene improved the expression of genes/proteins important for spermatogenesis, such as VASA, DAZL, SYCP3, PGK2. Moreover, β-carotene elevated the testicular antioxidant capability by the elevation of the antioxidant glutathione and antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX1, catalase levels. In conclusion, β-carotene may be applied for the infertile couples by the improvement of spermatogenesis, since, worldly many couples are infertile due to the idiopathic failed gametogenesis (spermatogenesis).

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publisher:	Frontiers Media S.A.
Copyright:	© 2021 Ma et al.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/65232

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