Protective effect of hawthorn flavones on thermal damage of mice leydig cells

ObjectiveTo examine protective effect of hawthorn flavones on thermal damage in mice leydig cells in vitro.MethodsMice leydig T cell lines (TM₃)during logarithmic phase growth were selected and divided into different groups (control,thermal stress group43℃ for 1 hour,thermal stress plus drug group and positive control group).The mice in thermal stress plus drug group were then divided into high (flavones of 800 mg/L),midium (200 mg/L),and low dose groups(50 mg/L).The mice in positive control group were treated with human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)(500 IU/L).The cell activity was observed with methyl thiazoletetrazolium (MTT)assay and cell proliferation rate was expressed by experimental groups/control ×100%.The morphological change was observed with optical microscopy.Molondialdehyde (MDA),superoxide dismutase (SOD),and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)were determined.ResultsThe cell activity of thermal stress model group(77.74±5.10%)reduced significantly(P<0.01)compared with the control;the cell activity of high(84.28±3.47%),midium(88.57±8.89%)and low dose drug group(91.33±5.50%)increased significantly(P<0.01)compared with that of control group.The cell activity of HCG positive control group(93.52±0.75%)increased significantly (P<0.01).The leydig cells of control group grew well.The number of the cells in the thermal stress group decreased obviously and deformation was observed after heat treatment.The number of the cells was not obviously changed in HCG positive control group and so as the number of cells in drug groups but the cells were in good shape.The contents of SOD (19.27±1.02 U/ml)and GSH-Px(246.03±13.53 U/ml)of thermal stress group reduced significantly(P<0.01)and MDA increased significantly(P<0.01)compared with those of the control.The contents of SOD(28.12±1.02 U/ml)and GSH-Px (290.62±13.53 U/ml)of HCG positive control group increased significantly(P<0.01)and MDA decreased significantly (P<0.01)compared with thermal stress group.The contents of SOD and GSH-Px of drug groups increased significantly(P<0.05)and MDA(1.94±0.08 nmol/ml)decreased significantly(P<0.05)compared with those of thermal stress group.ConclusionHawthorn flavones has antioxidant capacity and protective effect on thermal stress damage in mice leydig cells.