A Protein from Dioscorea polystachya (Chinese Yam) Improves Hydrocortisone-Induced Testicular Dysfunction by Alleviating Leydig Cell Injury via Upregulation of the Nrf2 Pathway

Figure 6

Nrf2 activation was required for DP1 to inhibit the Leydig cell injury. (a) Real-time PCR analysis of Nrf2 mRNA levels in TM3 cells transfected with Nrf2 siRNA or NC siRNA for 48 h. (b) Immunofluorescence staining was performed to measure the superoxide anion levels in TM3 cells. (c, d) The protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in testicular tissues were detected by Western blotting. (e, f) The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and p-SMAD2/3 in TM3 cells were detected by Western blotting. (g) Immunofluorescence analysis of TGF-β1 expression in TM3 cells. (h) Comparison of the testosterone levels in TM3 cells. Each bar represents the . All images were captured at a magnification of ×100. ^## and ^### vs. the control group; , , and vs. the DP1 group.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)