Astragalus polysaccharides combined with vitamin C protects cadmium-induced reproductive system damage in female rats by regulating the Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 signaling pathway
WANG Junzhu
DENG Yadan
LI Xin
Abstract：Objective To investigate the protective effect of Astragalus polysaccharides(APS)combined with vitamin C(Vc)on cadmium-induced reproductive system damage in female rats by regulating the B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)-associated X protein(Bax)/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 signaling pathway.Methods 24 SDfemale mice were randomly divided into 4 groups(6 mice in each group):the control group received intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline,the Cd group received intraperitoneal injection of CdCl2,and the two treatment groups were given oral administration of Aps+Vc(high and low doses).After the experiment,serum E2 and P4 levels were measured,ovarian pathology and cell apoptosis were observed,and Bax,Bcl-2,and Caspase-3 protein expression were detected.Results Rats in the low-dose and high-dose APS+Vc groups had improved body hair gloss,food and water intake,response to external stimuli,and increased weight growth rate and ovary index.There were no signs of hard lumps or gangrene in the abdomen.ELISA results showed significant increases in serum E2 and P4 in the low-dose and high-dose APS+Vc groups.H&E staining visualized a significantly improvement in the ovarian tissue microenvironment of the low-dose and high-dose APS+Vc groups.TUNEL assay revealed a significantly decreased apoptotic rate in rat ovarian tissue of the low-dose and high-dose APS+Vc groups.IHC results showed significant decreases in positive expression of Bax and Caspase-3,and increases in Bcl-2 in the low-dose and high-dose APS+Vc groups.Western blot revealed a significantly downregulated Bax and Caspase-3,upregulated Bcl-2,and decreased Bax/Bcl-2 in rat ovarian tissue of the low-dose and high-dose APS+Vc groups.Conclusion APS combined with Vc can inhibit cadmium-induced apoptosis in ovarian tissue of female rats by regulating the protein expressions of Bax/Bcl-2 and Caspase-3,adjusting the apoptosis of ovarian tissue,reducing the generation of atresia follicles,restoring serum estrogen,alleviating ovarian damages,improving ovarian microenvironment and ovarian function.The treatment of APS combined with Vc against cadmium-induced ovarian damage in clinical practice is of great value.It has important value in clinical treatment.
Keywords：cadmiumvitamin CAstragalus polysaccharidesB cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)-associated X protein(Bax)/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 signaling pathway
Publication Date：2025-12-26
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 1941-1946 )