Effect of Echinochrome A on Submandibular Gland Dysfunction in Ovariectomized Rats
Ji-Min Kim,
Sung-Chan Shin,
Yong-Il Cheon,
Hyung-Sik Kim,
Gi-Cheol Park,
Hyoung-Kyu Kim,
Jin Han,
Jung-Eun Seol,
Elena A. Vasileva,
Natalia P. Mishchenko,
Sergey A. Fedoreyev,
Valentin A. Stonik,
Byung-Joo Lee
Affiliations
Ji-Min Kim
Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea
Sung-Chan Shin
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
Yong-Il Cheon
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
Hyung-Sik Kim
Department of Life Science in Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea
Gi-Cheol Park
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Changwon 51353, Republic of Korea
Hyoung-Kyu Kim
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Graduate School, Inje University Busan, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
Jin Han
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Graduate School, Inje University Busan, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
Jung-Eun Seol
Department of Dermatology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
Elena A. Vasileva
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Natalia P. Mishchenko
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Sergey A. Fedoreyev
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Valentin A. Stonik
G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
Byung-Joo Lee
Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea
Post-menopausal dry mouth or xerostomia is caused by reduced salivary secretion. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of echinochrome A (Ech A) in alleviating submandibular gland dysfunctions in ovariectomized rats that mimic menopause. Female rats that were eight-weeks-old were randomly divided into SHAM-6, -12; OVX-6, -12; and ECH-6, -12 groups (consisting of 6- and 12-weeks post-sham-operated, ovariectomized, and Ech A-treated ovariectomized rats, respectively). The ECH groups had lower body weight than OVX but similar food intake and estradiol or estrogen receptor β expression. However, the ECH groups had lower mRNA expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein-1c (Srebp-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acc), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), cluster of differentiation 36 (Cd36), and lipid vacuole deposition than OVX mice. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and iron accumulation were lower in the ECH than in the OVX groups. Fibrosis markers, transforming growth factor β (Tgf-βI and Tgf-βII mRNA) increased in the OVX than SHAM groups but decreased in the ECH groups. Aquaporin (Aqp-1 and Aqp-5 mRNA) and mucin expressions were downregulated in the OVX groups but improved with Ech A. In addition, Ech A prevented post-menopausal salivary gland dysfunction by inhibiting lipogenesis and ferroptosis. These findings suggest Ech A as an effective remedy for treating menopausal dry mouth.
