Sulforaphane attenuates irradiation induced testis injury in mice

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjectives The testis is vulnerable to ionizing radiation, sexual dysfunction and male infertility are common problems after local radiation or whole-body exposure. Currently, there are no approved drugs for the prevention or treatment of radiation testicular injury. Sulforaphane (SFN) is an indirect antioxidant that induces phase II detoxification enzymes and antioxidant genes. Herein, we investigated the radiation protective effect of SFN on testicular injury in mice and its potential mechanism.Methods In this study, we investigated the protective effect of SFN on radiation-induced testicular injury in mice and its potential mechanism by screen the testicular histoarchitecture, oxidative stress, cell apoptosis and SFN related Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes.Results The results show that the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on testes manifest as damage to histoarchitecture, increased oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, thereby impairs male fertility. SFN can resist reproductive toxicity caused by ionizing radiation in vivo by reducing the level of oxidative stress by activating Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes. Besides, SFN also can inhibit the NFκB activity and effectively attenuated the testicular microstructure damaged by ionizing radiation.Conclusions Our study reveals SFN can be considered an outstanding candidate for potential clinical applications in the prevention of irradiation-associated testicular injury.

Keywords

• Sulforaphane
• Ionizing radiation
• Testis injury
• Nrf2
• NFκB
• spermatogenesis