1. Cordycepin, an Active Constituent of Nutrient Powerhouse and Potential Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris Linn., Ameliorates Age-Related Testicular Dysfunction in Rats.
- Author
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Kopalli SR, Cha KM, Lee SH, Hwang SY, Lee YJ, Koppula S, and Kim SK
- Subjects
- Animals, Deoxyadenosines administration & dosage, Gene Expression Regulation drug effects, Male, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 genetics, Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 metabolism, RNA, Messenger, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Androgen genetics, Receptors, Androgen metabolism, Receptors, FSH genetics, Receptors, FSH metabolism, Receptors, LH genetics, Receptors, LH metabolism, Sirtuin 1 genetics, Sirtuin 1 metabolism, Spermatogenesis, Transcription Factors genetics, Transcription Factors metabolism, Aging, Cordyceps chemistry, Deoxyadenosines pharmacology, Testis drug effects
- Abstract
Age-related male sexual dysfunction covers a wide variety of issues, together with spermatogenic and testicular impairment. In the present work, the effects of cordycepin (COR), an active constituent of a nutrient powerhouse Cordyceps militaris Linn, on senile testicular dysfunction in rats was investigated. The sperm kinematics, antioxidant enzymes, spermatogenic factors, sex hormone receptors, histone deacetylating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and autophagy-related mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) expression in aged rat testes were evaluated. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into young control (2-month-old; YC), aged control (12-month-old; AC), and aged plus COR-treated groups (5 (COR-5), 10 (COR-10), and 20 (COR-20) mg/kg). The AC group showed reduced sperm kinematics and altered testicular histomorphology compared with the YC group ( p < 0.05). However, compared with the AC group, the COR-treated group exhibited improved sperm motility, progressiveness, and average path/straight line velocity ( p < 0.05-0.01). Alterations in spermatogenesis-related protein and mRNA expression were significantly ameliorated ( p < 0.05) in the COR-20 group compared with the AC group. The altered histone deacetylating SIRT1 and autophagy-related mTORC1 molecular expression in aged rats were restored in the COR-20 group ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that COR holds immense nutritional potential and therapeutic value in ameliorating age-related male sexual dysfunctions. more...
- Published
- 2019
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