Rat Sperm Proteomic Analysis: Effect of the Antifertility Agent Centellaasiatica L.

Abstract

Oral intake of CentellaasiaticaL. has been reported to have an antifertility effecton sperm quality. In this study the effects of C.asiaticaL. treatment in male rat sperm quality and sperm protein expression were analyzed. Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats twelve weeks old were divided into four groups: control group; low dose group (100 mg/kg body weight); medium dose group (200 mg/kg body weight); and high dose group (300 mg/kg body weight). All treated groups were force-fed with an ethanolic extract of C.asiaticaL. and the control group was force-fed with distilled water, respectively for 42 days. Rats were sacrificed on day 43. Cauda epididymal rat sperm from control and high dose treatment were subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for comparison of protein expression profiles. Results showed that caudaepididymal sperm count and motilityin treated groups showed a significant decrease compared to  control. Medium and high dose treatments showed the most significant reduction (p<0.05).Proteomic study revealed significant changes in sperm protein expression between control (282 spots) versus high dose treated group (234 spots). The matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis of the selected spots exhibited five spots differentially expressed identified as alpha enolase, aldolase A, sorbitol dehydrogenase, glutaminesynthetase and lipocalin. Sorbitol dehydrogenase was present in the control group, but not in the treated group. This enzyme plays an  important role in sperm motility and  is associated with the maturation of the germinal epithelial layer of seminiferous tubules.The lipocalin protein also disappeared in the treated group. This transport protein plays a significant role in epididymal function. It was concludedthat C. asiaticaL.have antifertility activities in rats sperm quality and protein expression.