Kattawy M D HAE, Abozaid ER, Abdullah DM. Humanin ameliorates late-onset hypogonadism in aged male rats.
Curr Mol Pharmacol 2022;
15:996-1008. [PMID:
35086467 DOI:
10.2174/1874467215666220127115602]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The reproductive potential declines with age. Late-onset hypogonadism is characterized by reduced serum testosterone. Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived signaling peptide encoded by short open reading frames within the mitochondrial genome. It may protect against some age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis by its cytoprotective effects.
OBJECTIVE
it aimed to investigate the potential anti-aging effects of humanin on the testicular architecture, oxidative stress, some apoptotic and inflammatory markers in the hypogonadal aged male rats.
METHODS
Forty male albino rats were divided into 4 groups: normal adult controls, aged vehicle-treated group, aged testosterone-treated group, and aged humanin-treated group. Twenty-month-old male rats with declined serum testosterone were selected to be the animal models of late-onset hypogonadism. Testicular weights, serum testosterone, and some sperm parameters were measured. Testicular tissue IL-6 and TNF-α, superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde were assessed. The activity of caspase-3, BCL2, PCNA, and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element pathway were evaluated. Testes were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Statistical analysis was executed using One Way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Post hoc (LSD) test to compare means among all studied groups.
RESULTS
humanin treatment significantly improved serum testosterone, some sperm characteristics, and antioxidant defenses. It decreased active caspase-3, pro-apoptotic BAX expression, and increased antiapoptotic BCL2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) possibly via activating the (Nrf2-ARE) pathway.
CONCLUSION
humanin might be a promising therapeutic modality in late-onset hypogonadism as it ameliorated some age-related testicular and hormonal adverse effects.
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