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Formaldehyde (FA), which is known as an air pollutant, has been proven to induce male infertility. However, the underlying mechanism of FA-induced male infertility remains elusive. In this study, 24 male SD rats were exposed to different levels of FA (0, 0.5, 2.46, and 5 mg/m) for eight consecutive weeks. Through HE staining and sperm smear, we observed that FA exposure resulted in spermatogenic injury and the sperm quality decreased in rats. The qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis further revealed that GRPR was down-regulated in testicular tissues of FA-exposed rats as well as primary spermatogenic cells. Meanwhile, ZDOCK uncovered an interaction between GRPR and PLCβ. In addition, the CCK8, Fluo 3-AM and Flow cytometry results showed that FA exposure suppressed the expression of GRPR, PLCβ and IP3R, consequently reducing the Ca concentration in spermatogenic cells, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of spermatogenic cells. Moreover, rescue experiments confirmed that promoting GRPR could improve intracellular Ca concentration by upregulating PLCβ and IP3R, partially reducing the apoptosis and promoting the proliferation of FA-treated spermatogenic cells. These findings revealed that GRPR participates in spermatogenesis through Ca mediated by the PLCβ/IP3R signaling pathway in FA-exposed rats.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2023.113998 | DOI Listing |
Reprod Toxicol
September 2025
School of Public Health, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, China. Electronic address:
This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) against Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) induced spermatogenic damage, focusing on the Src/PI3K/Akt pathway. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Rg3 restored DBP-induced dysregulation of gap junction (GJ) protein connexin 43 (Cx43), improved testicular structure, enhanced sperm parameters (count and motility), and upregulated phosphorylation of Src, PI3K, and Akt (p-Src, p-PI3K, p-Akt) in mice. In vitro studies, using the metabolite of DBP, monobutyl phthalate (MBP), and pathway inhibitors (PP2 for Src and LY294002 for PI3K), further confirmed these effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Therm Biol
September 2025
Department of Animal and Diary Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
Owing to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), 20 mature male albino rats, assigned into four groups (A-D; n = 5), were used to investigate its ameliorative effects on heat stress-induced testicular and humoral alterations. Group A rats were neither treated with SC nor exposed to heat [-SC, -HS]. Group B rats were treated with 7 mg/kg of SC, but were not exposed to heat [+SC, -HS].
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReprod Biol
September 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Education, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei Anhui230022, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across
Current research indicates that polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) may significantly impair male reproductive function. This study aimed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying this impairment. Potential gene targets of PET-MPs were predicted via the SwissTargetPrediction database.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cell Dev Biol
August 2025
Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background: Methotrexate (MTX), a folate antagonist, is widely used in the treatment of tumors and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), due to its antiproliferative, antimetabolic, and potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, high-dose or long-term use of MTX can result in toxicity to the gastrointestinal, hemopoietic, and reproductive tissues. Yunpi Jiedu Tongluo Qushi Decoction (YJT), an effective Chinese herbal formula, is utilized in RA treatment to mitigate the toxic and side effect of MTX.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Pharm Biotechnol
August 2025
Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Department of Cardiology, Heshmat Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
Introduction: Radiation targets cancer but risks causing infertility by damaging sensitive testes, especially spermatogonia. This study investigates IR-induced testicular damage and assesses PGZ's potential protective role as a ferroptosis inhibitor.
Material & Methods: In this study, Seventy-two BALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a control, PGZ (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg), IR (8 Gy), and IR+ PGZ (in three doses).