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Topical Area: Carotenoids and Retinoids

Carotenoids and Retinoids (Poster Session)

(P01-018-23) Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Lycopene Against Environmental Toxicants-Induced Male Reproductive Dysfunction and Infertility

Saturday, July 22, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Location: Poster Board 327

    Presenting Author(s)

  • YI Zhao*, DVM

    NO.600 Changjiang Street Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150030, P. R. China
    Northeast Agricultural University
    Harbin, Heilongjiang, China (People's Republic)

    • Co-Author(s)

  • JL

    Jinlong Li

    Northeast Agricultural University

Disclosure(s):
YI Zhao*, DVM: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: To explore whether lycopene could prevent environmental toxicants-induced male reproductive dysfunction and infertility

Methods: The 21-day-old male ICR mice were used as subjects in the vivo experimental part of this experiment with DEHP and/or LYC. After 28 days by gavage, the clinical status, genital morphology, serum sex hormone levels, sperm-related parameters, and related indicators of spermatogenesis, testosterone synthesis and blood-testis barrier (BTB) of mice were observed. The three cell lines (GC-1, TM3 and TM4) were respectively detect the changes in related factors of spermatogenesis, testosterone synthesis and secretion function by metabolite (mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) MEHP and/or LYC treatment. Finally, plasmid Cx43 overexpression vector and Cx43 siRNA (siCx43) were transfected in the culture system.

Results: LYC alleviated DEHP-induced damages of sperm DNA and protein, decreased motility and ability to penetrate cumulus granulosa cells, and decreased spermatogenesis-related proteins. LYC inhibited DEHP-induced disorders of steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolic, and changes of serum sex hormone levels and alterations of testosterone synthases. LYC alleviated DEHP-induced disorder of secretion function-related proteins (androgen receptor) levels, the structural and functional impairment of BTB, and gap junction-related proteins (Cx43 and P-Cx43) levels. Knockdown of Cx43 could inhibit the protective effect of LYC on MEHP-induced the decline of cell migration ability in TM4 cells and the impairment of BTB function in primary Sertoli cells.

Conclusions: We proved that LYC supplement targeting of Cx43 could be exploited to prevent phthalate-induced blood-testis barrier disruption and thus treat male infertility. We also uncovered testosterone/androgen receptor pathway played a critical role in LYC preventing phthalate-induced male reproductive dysfunction.

Funding Sources: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32172932), Key Program of Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China (No. ZD2021C003), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (No. CARS-35), Distinguished Professor of Longjiang Scholars Support Project (No. T201908) and Heilongjiang Touyan Innovation Team Program.