Ameliorative effect of berberine on varicocele-related cell renewal arrest: Correlation with Bcl-6b and glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)

Background: Varicocele (VCL), as highly prevalent male infertility disorder, adversely affects spermatogenesis. Glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and Bcl6b are known as core elements involving in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) renewal process. The present study was performed to uncover the promoting role of berberine, as potentially antioxidant agent, against VCL-related SSCs renewal arrest.Methods: Thirty mature male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (NO: 6 rats), control-sham (NO: 6 rats) and experimental groups (NO: 18 rats). The animals in experimental groups were undergone experimental varicocele and simple laparotomy was conducted in control-sham group. The experimental group subdivided into: Non-treated VCL-induced, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg berberine-treated groups. The mRNA and protein levels of GDNF and Bcl-6b were evaluated by using RT-PCR and western blotting techniques, respectively. The immunohistochemical staining was performed for representing GDNF and BCL-6b-positive cells.Result: The mRNA and protein levels of GDNF and Bcl-6b were decreased in non-treated VCL-induced group compared to control and control-sham animals. No significant changes were found between control and control-sham groups. However, the animals in berberine-treated groups (especially 100 mg/kg) exhibited significant (P Conclusion: Considering the critical interaction of GDNF in cell proliferation and minding the role of Bcl-6b in triggering the SCCs renewal, we can suggest that berberine by promoting the GDNF and Bcl-6b expression ameliorates the VCL-related SCCs renewal arrest.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bcl6b ، GDNF ، Renewal ، SCCs ، Varicocele