N-(3-Methozybenzyl)-(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienamide from maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) ameliorates corticosterone-induced testicular toxicity in rats

Abstract

This study investigated the protective effects of maca ethanol extract (EEM) and N-(3-methozybenzyl)-(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienamide (M 18:3) on corticosterone (CORT)-induced testicular toxicity. Male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. Except for the control group, CORT (40 mg per kg·bw) was injected subcutaneously for 21 consecutive days to induce testicular toxicity. 1 h before CORT injection, the rats were treated with EEM (400 mg per kg·bw) and M 18:3 (5 mg per kg·bw, 25 mg per kg·bw) by gavage, except for the control group and model group. Epididymal sperm and biochemical, and histological parameters were evaluated for the protective effects of the drugs. EEM (400 mg per kg·bw) and M 18:3 (5 mg per kg·bw, 25 mg per kg·bw) increased the sperm concentration and sperm motility, decreased the production of abnormal sperms, and increased the number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubules of CORT-induced rats. Moreover, EEM and M 18:3 decreased the MDA levels and the positive expression rates of TUNEL, whereas they increased the activities of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and GST, and the contents of GSH in the testicles of CORT-induced rats. Furthermore, EEM and M 18:3 alleviated CORT-induced reduction in the positive expression rates of PCNA and Ki67 in the testicles of rats. Besides, EEM and M 18:3 reduced the expression levels of Keap-1 and increased the expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, γ-GCS, and NQO1 in the testicles of CORT-induced rats. In summary, the protective effects of EEM and M 18:3 may be attributed to their anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties.