2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (29): 4632-4637

Protective effect of Ganoderma lucidum spores on epididymis and authophage in diabetic rats

Zhang Xin, Ma Xiaoru, Xue Jingwen, Wang Fangfang, Wu Lan, Li Yue   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia caused by diabetes are closely related to male infertility, and Ganoderma lucidum spores are considered to be anti-aging and improve blood glucose levels. However, the protective effect of Ganoderma lucidum spores on diabetic epididymis remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum spores on diabetic epididymis.
METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=10), high fat/high glucose group (n=10), and model group (n=20). Rats in the normal group were fed with normal diet, while those in the high fat/high glucose group and model group were fed with high fat and high glucose diet. The rats in the model group were then intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (30 mg/kg) to induce diabetes mellitus. Model rats were randomly divided into diabetes mellitus group (n=10) and Ganoderma lucidum spores group (GLS, n=10). The rats in the GLS group were treated with Ganoderma lucidum spores
(300 mg/kg per day) by gavage, and the rats in the high fat/high glucose group and diabetes mellitus group were gavaged with the equal volume of normal saline and fed with high fat and high glucose diet for 12 weeks. Body mass, fasting blood glucose, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde level and sperm deformity rate were measured in each group. Structural changes in the epididymis in diabetic rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, beclin1, p62, and LC3 in the rat epididymal tissue were detected by western blot and immunohistochemical staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Ganoderma lucidum spores could significantly recovery epididymal function, improve the epididymal histopathology, and promote cell autophagy and antioxidant capacity. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the immune intensity of p62 and cleaved caspase-3 decreased significantly. Western blot analysis showed that Ganoderma lucidum spores obviously upregulated beclin1 and LC3 protein expression levels and decreased p62 and Cleaved caspase-3 protein expression levels when compared with the diabetes mellitus group. To conclude, Ganoderma lucidum spores may induce autophagy, increase antioxidant capacity and inhibit apoptosis to protect against epididymal injury in diabetic rats.
Key words: diabetes mellitus, epididymis, Ganoderma lucidum spores, high fat and high glucose, autophagy, apoptosis