Protective effects of an aqueous extract of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae against radiation-induced testicular injury in mice.

Abstract

The larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis have been used as a food ingredient and are known for their nutritional value and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether P. brevitarsis seulensis larvae demonstrate protective effects against radiation-induced testicular injury has not been investigated. In this study, the protective effects of an aqueous extract of P. brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBE) against radiation-induced testicular injury were tested. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered PBE (5 or 10 mg/kg) orally for 14 days before exposure to focal pelvic irradiation. Histopathological examinations were conducted at 8 h and 30 d after radiation exposure. PBE pretreatment reduced the radiation-induced apoptosis of germ cells at 8 h after irradiation and significantly increased testis and epididymis weights relative to those of the irradiated control mice at 30 days. PBE protected against histopathological damage and decreased the radiation-induced effects on the epithelium height and seminiferous tubule diameter. Furthermore, the extract ameliorated the radiation-induced morphological abnormalities of sperm cells and improved their motility. It also prevented a decrease in the epididymal sperm count caused by irradiation. Moreover, the extract alleviated the generation of reactive oxygen species, and its antioxidative activity increased in a dose-dependent manner. Among the six major compounds isolated from PBE, benzoic acid and uridine showed the highest antioxidant activities. These results suggest that PBE protects against radiation-induced testicular injury via its antioxidative properties. Thus, it has potential clinical applicability as a neoadjuvant therapy for the prevention of testicular damage caused by cancer radiotherapy.

• Authors: Hyeon-Hwa Nam, Sohi Kang, Yun-Soo Seo, Jun Lee, Byeong Cheol Moon, Hae June Lee, Ji Hye Lee, Bohye Kim, Sueun Lee, Joong-Sun Kim
• Journal: Food science & nutrition (Food Sci Nutr) Vol. 10 Issue 11 Pg. 3969-3978 (Nov 2022) ISSN: 2048-7177 [Print] United States
• PMID: 36348800 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.