Squid ink polysaccharide reduces cyclophosphamide-induced testicular damage via Nrf۲/ARE activation pathway in mice

Objective(s):Cyclophosphamide (CP) toxicity on testis was hampered by squid ink polysaccharide (SIP) via restoration of antioxidant ability in our previous investigations. This study investigated roles of Nrf۲/ARE signal pathway in testis of treated mice. Materials and Methods: Male Kunming mice were employed to undergo treatment with SIP and/or CP. Protein levels of Nrf۲, keap-۱, histone deacetylase ۲ (HDAC۲), quinone oxidoreductase ۱ (NQO-۱), and heme oxygenase ۱ (HO-۱) and phosphorylation level of protein kinase C (PKC) in testis were evaluated by Western blotting. Results: Data showed that SIP elevated expressions of NQO-۱ and HO-۱ genes, two downstream target molecules of Nrf۲, via activating Nrf۲ to play preventive roles on CP-treated testis, and further discovered that upstream regulators of Nrf۲, keap-۱, HDAC۲, and PKC, were concerned with the regulation of Nrf۲. Conclusion: These results suggest that SIP could effectively weaken CP-associated testicular damage via Nrf۲/ARE signal pathway.

Keywords:

Cyclophosphamide , Mice , Nrf۲/ARE , Squid Ink Polysaccharides , Testis