Protective effects of Yiqi jiedu decoction on ionizing radiation-induced spermatogenic cell injury

Ionizing radiation (IR) has found widespread application in modern medicine. As a result, radiotherapy inevitably causes spermatogenic cell injury. Many Chinese herbal prescriptions or natural extracts have the potential to protect against radiation injury.

We used GC-2spd cells to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of YQJD decoction on protecting spermatogenic cells from ionizing radiation injury.

Firstly, the GC-2spd cells were irradiated with ⁶⁰Co γ-rays (1 Gy, 2 Gy, 4 Gy and 8 Gy) to establish an in vitro model of radiation injury. After that, Cells were divided into six groups: negative control group (NC group), model group (IR group), positive drug group (IRA group), high-dose YQJD decoction (IRH group), medium-dose YQJD decoction (IRM group), and low-dose YQJD decoction group (IRL group). DNA damage, oxidative damage and inflammatory factors were measured. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by Flow cytometry. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to observe the morphological changes.

After irradiation with ⁶⁰CO γ-ray, the results indicated that the damage of spermatocyte was significantly induced by radiation exposure over 4 Gy. Furthermore, ionizing radiation could make DNA damage and oxidative stress in in GC-2spd cells. In addition, ⁶⁰CO γ-ray also caused the increase of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and the change of cell cycle. However, the application of YQJD decoction inhibited the damage and apoptosis of GC-2spd cells in the aspects of anti-oxidation, promoting DNA damage repair and regulating inflammatory reaction.

Taken together, the protective effects of YQJD decoction on ⁶⁰CO γ-ray induced spermatocyte injury were confirmed in this study. This exploration might provide a new strategy for the application of Chinese herbs in radioprotection.