mechanism-shu-mu-brain-kidney-acupoint-treating-oligoasthenospermia

Mechanism of Shu-Mu Brain-Kidney Acupoint in Treating Oligoasthenospermia in Rats <em>via</em> the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis

Oligoasthenospermia is a common cause of male infertility. The hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis regulates gonadal differentiation and ...

isoflurane-assisted-electroacupuncture-rat-model

Isoflurane-Assisted Electroacupuncture in a Rat Model of Oligoasthenozoospermia

Oligoasthenozoospermia is one of the most common forms of male reproductive dysfunction. In rodent studies, delivering electroacupuncture (EA) ...

Ningxia medical university

Ningxia Medical University Key Laboratory of Ningxia Minority Medicine Modernization Ministry of Education

Ningxia Regional Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Regional High Incidence Disease

Ningxia Medical University School of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of luteolin in the mechanism of ultraviolet radiation B (UVB)-induced photoaging. An  photoaging model was established using UVB irradiation of bare skin on the back of rats, and an  photoaging model was established using UVB irradiation of human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Skin damage was observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining, skin and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by DHE and DCF fluorescent probes, mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 staining, and protein expressions were detected by immunofluorescence and Western Blot. Results from animal experiments showed that luteolin reduced UVB-induced erythema and wrinkle formation. Results from cellular assays showed that luteolin inhibited UVB-induced decrease in cell viability. In addition,  and  experiments showed that luteolin reduced oxidative stress levels, decreased activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and increased collagen expression. Continued cellular experiments using 3-TYP, an inhibitor of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), revealed a loss of cellular protection by luteolin and a decrease in collagen, suggesting that luteolin acts by targeting and promoting SIRT3. luteolin is involved in the protection of skin cells against UVB radiation-induced ageing via the SIRT3/ROS/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) axis and it may be a promising therapeutic agent for the prevention of UVB photoaging.

Luteolin Prevents UVB-Induced Skin Photoaging Damage by Modulating SIRT3/ROS/MAPK Signaling: An  and  Studies.

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of skin photoaging, and the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Acacetin on skin photoaging in UVA-irradiated mice and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Healthy dorsal depilated rats were irradiated with UVA 30 J/cm daily, every other day, for 1 month. Acacetin (40, 80 mg kg/day) was coated to the bare skin of the rats' backs 1 h before UVA irradiation. HDF were treated different concentrations of Acacetin (5, 10, 20 μg/ml) and then irradiated with UVA (20 J/cm ). Acacetin was found to be effective in ameliorating UVA-induced oxidative stress and cell death. Acacetin also prevented the UVA-induced decrease of SIRT3, reduced the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs, p-38 and p-JNK) and blocked the down-regulated activation of oxidative stress in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In addition, Acacetin increased the expressions of collagen-promoting proteins (TGF-β and Smad3). Finally, the SIRT3 inhibitor 3-TYP blocked all protective effects of Acacetin, indicating that the protective effect of Acacetin against UVA photoaging is SIRT3-dependent. Acacetin effectively mitigated photoaging by targeting the promotion of SIRT3, inhibiting the UVA-induced increases in MMPs and pro-inflammatory factors, and promoting TGF-β and Smad3.

Acacetin resists UVA photoaging by mediating the SIRT3/ROS/MAPKs pathway.

To investigate the effects and corresponding mechanisms of total flavonoids (TFL) from Lycium barbarum leaves on photoaged human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs).

Protective Effects and Molecular Mechanism of Total Flavonoids from Lycium Barbarum Leaves on Photoaged Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

Seizures in rodent models that are induced by lithium-pilocarpine mimic human seizures in a highly isomorphic manner. The hippocampus is a brain region that generates and spreads seizures. In order to understand the early phases of seizure events occurring in the hippocampus, global protein expression levels in the hippocampus on day 1 and day 3 were analyzed in lithium-pilocarpine induced acute epileptic rat models using a tandem mass tag-based proteomic approach. Our results showed that differentially expressed proteins were likely to be enhanced rather than prohibited in modulating seizure activity on days 1 and 3 in lithium-pilocarpine induced seizure rats. The differentially regulated proteins differed on days 1 and 3 in the seizure rats, indicating that different molecules and pathways are involved in seizure events occurring from day 1 to day 3 following lithium-pilocarpine administration. In regard to subcellular distribution, the results suggest that post-seizure cellular function in the hippocampus is possibly regulated in a differential manner on seizure progression. Gene ontology annotation results showed that, on day 1 following lithium-pilocarpine administration, it is likely necessary to regulate macromolecular complex assembly, and cell death, while on day 3, it may be necessary to modulate protein metabolic process, cytoplasm, and protein binding. Protein metabolic process rather than macromolecular complex assembly and cell death were affected on day 3 following lithium-pilocarpine administration. The extracellular matrix, receptors, and the constitution of plasma membranes were altered most strongly in the development of seizure events. In a KEGG pathway enrichment cluster analysis, the signaling pathways identified were relevant to sustained angiogenesis and evading apoptosis, and complement and coagulation cascades. On day 3, pathways relevant to Huntington's disease, and tumor necrosis factor signaling were most prevalent. These results suggest that seizure events occurring in day 1 modulate macromolecular complex assembly and cell death, and in day 3 modulate biological protein metabolic process. In summary, our study found limited evidence for ongoing seizure events in the hippocampus of lithium-pilocarpine induced animal models; nevertheless, evaluating the global differential expression of proteins and their impacts on bio-function may offer new perspectives for studying epileptogenesis in the future.

Predicted molecules and signaling pathways for regulating seizures in the hippocampus in lithium-pilocarpine induced acute epileptic rats: A proteomics study.

In this study, we analyzed the differential expression and key signaling pathways of proteins in the skin of guinea pigs with melanin deposition caused by two different modeling methods by utilizing proteomics techniques.

Proteomic Analysis of Two Different Methods to Induce Skin Melanin Deposition Models in Guinea Pigs.

[Purpose] To determine the optimal Tuina rolling manipulation parameters for improving peripheral blood circulation and to observe the duration of these effects. [Participants and Methods] A total of 162 healthy males and 20 males with coronary heart disease were recruited, with a mean age of 29.5 ± 6.4 years. The change in blood flow was used as the observation index, and the best combination of parameters was selected using a cyclic orthogonal experiment. We observed changes in rolling manipulation across different time periods and groups. [Results] There were significant interactions between pressure, frequency and duration in the rolling manipulation. The combination mode of 4 kg, 120 repetitions/min and 10 min is the most effective to improve the average blood flow increase rate of popliteal artery. At 15 minutes after manipulation, different degrees of significant increase were observed, but 20 minutes after manipulation, the average blood flow rate returned to the premanipulation level. There was no difference in blood flow rate between healthy males and coronary heart disease patients. [Conclusion] An effective dynamic model of rolling manipulation was constructed. These results contradicted the idea that more pressure and longer continuous manipulation led to stronger effects. The effect of rolling manipulation on improving peripheral circulation can be maintained for 20 minutes.

Optimization of Tuina rolling manipulation parameters to promote blood circulation using a circulatory orthogonal experiment.

Male infertility is most commonly caused by oligozoospermia, and its pathogenesis is still poorly understood at the molecular level. This study used RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology to identify candidate genes and regulatory pathways that regulate semen quality in the hypothalamic, pituitary, and testicular tissues of healthy rats and Adenine-induced oligozoospermia model rats. Semen quality testing and histological analysis of testicular tissues were performed on both groups of rats. We identified 627, 692, and 437 differentially expressed genes in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and testes, respectively. Functional analysis indicates that "neuronal projections," "positive regulation of hormone biosynthetic process," and "neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways" are closely related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis hormone regulation and sperm production. Seven genes (Pomc, Rxfp1, Tac1, Npy, Insl3, Hsd3b3, Lhcgr) have been identified as key candidate genes responsible for regulating sperm quality within the HPT axis, potentially affecting rat reproductive function by influencing testicular development and testosterone secretion. These data provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the molecular mechanisms of reproductive performance in a rat model of oligoasthenozoospermia.

Transcriptomic analysis of the HPT axis in a model of oligoasthenozoospermia induced by Adenine in rats.

The transcriptomic analysis was used to explore the effect of electroacupuncture therapy with distant-approximal acupoints based on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) on gene expression patterns and pathways in oligoasthenospermia (OAT) rats. In this study, the rat model of OAT after intragastric administration of adenine was selected as the research object, and randomly divided into a blank group (C), a model group (M), and a electroacupuncture therapy with distant-approximal acupoints group (D). After electroacupuncture intervention, the epididymal sperm quality and serum sex hormone levels of rats was detected and three tissue samples of HPT axis were taken, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by transcriptome sequencing technology. GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the DEGs. The oxidative stress related indicators in serum and HPT axis were also detected to verify the transcriptomic analysis results. Compared with group C, group M rats showed a decrease in sperm count (p < 0.001), sperm survival rate (p < 0.001), and sperm motility rate (p < 0.001); the serum levels of GnRH in the group M rats decreased (p < 0.001), FSH increased (p < 0.001), LH increased (p < 0.001), and T decreased (p < 0.001). Compared with group M, group D rats showed an increase in sperm count (p < 0.01), sperm survival rate (p < 0.001), sperm motility rate (p < 0.001), an increase in GnRH levels (p < 0.001), a decrease in FSH levels (p < 0.01), a decrease in LH levels (p < 0.001), and an increase in T levels (p < 0.001). In bioinformatics analysis, compared with group M, we identified 1656, 518, 530 DEGs in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and testis in group D, respectively. Combining the go and KEGG analysis results, three oxidative stress signaling pathways that may be related to electroacupuncture intervention in OAT rats were screened. It mainly involves the glutamatergic synaptic pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway and the glutathione metabolism pathway. Six key genes (Gng12、Grin1、Gng7、Jun、Nf1 and Gstp1) were identified as key candidate genes regulating epididymal sperm quality on the HPT axis, which may affect the reproductive function of rats by affecting the process of oxidative stress in vivo. No matter in serum or in three tissues of HPT axis, GPX4 level in group M was decreased compared with Group K (p < 0.0001), while GPX4 level in group D was increased compared with group M (p < 0.0001). This study found that the effect of electroacupuncture therapy with distant-approximal acupoints based on the HPT axis in rats with OAT is related to the process of oxidative stress. And the main genes involved in the oxidative stress pathway were identified, which provided directions and ideas for subsequent research. But these results are only the preliminary results of transcriptomics, and relevant experiments need to be designed to further verify the mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy in rats with OAT.

Assessment of Electroacupuncture Therapy with Distant-Approximal Acupoints Based on the HPT Axis in Rats with Oligoasthenospermia Through Transcriptomic Analysis.

ArticleTotal : 2	Year
Publication title Cited by 1	2025
Publication title	2026

Article	Year
Luteolin Prevents UVB-Induced Skin Photoaging Damage by Modulating SIRT3/ROS/MAPK Signaling: An and Studies. Frontiers in pharmacology\| PubMed ID: 34526903	2021
Acacetin resists UVA photoaging by mediating the SIRT3/ROS/MAPKs pathway. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine\| PubMed ID: 35765710	2022
Protective Effects and Molecular Mechanism of Total Flavonoids from Lycium Barbarum Leaves on Photoaged Human Dermal Fibroblasts. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM\| PubMed ID: 35800012	2022
Predicted molecules and signaling pathways for regulating seizures in the hippocampus in lithium-pilocarpine induced acute epileptic rats: A proteomics study. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience\| PubMed ID: 36531133	2022
Proteomic Analysis of Two Different Methods to Induce Skin Melanin Deposition Models in Guinea Pigs. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology\| PubMed ID: 37663883	2023
Optimization of Tuina rolling manipulation parameters to promote blood circulation using a circulatory orthogonal experiment. Journal of physical therapy science\| PubMed ID: 38694003	2024
Transcriptomic analysis of the HPT axis in a model of oligoasthenozoospermia induced by Adenine in rats. Experimental and molecular pathology\| PubMed ID: 39700678	2025
Assessment of Electroacupuncture Therapy with Distant-Approximal Acupoints Based on the HPT Axis in Rats with Oligoasthenospermia Through Transcriptomic Analysis. Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)\| PubMed ID: 40016484	2025

Huisheng Ma

Biography

JoVE Journal Publications

Other Publications