Betanin ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-caused testis damage via multiple signal networks

Betanin, widely found in red beets, is a natural bioactive compound with health beneficial effects. Of recent interest is the impact of sepsis on the reproductive system. The present study first evaluated the effects of betanin on the changes in oxidative stress/antioxidant, inflammatory, ER stress/antiapoptotic responses and 8-OHdG parameters as well as TLR4 and NF-κB activity on LPS-induced testis damage. The male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, LPS group, oral betanin groups (50 and 110 mg/kg) and oral betanin plus LPS groups. The sepsis model was induced by LPS (10 mg/kg) injection in rats. Animals were intragastrically treated with betanin an hour before the LPS challenge. Betanin supplementation at high dose stimulated the activation of SOD in rat testis tissue and prevented LPS-induced oxidative stress. Consistently, betanin conferred protection by reducing the increasing levels of TNF, VCAM-1 and MPO in tissue against the inflammatory effects of LPS. Betanin also inhibited LPS-activated apoptotic ER stress-CHOP pathway and significantly ameliorated pathological findings. Besides, NF-κB and TLR4 expressions were decreased in testes of rats in HD Be + LPS group compared with the LPS group. High expression of Bcl-2 was associated with the anti-apoptotic effects of betanin in LPS-induced testis injury.