Anti-Oxidative, Spermatogenic Effects of Raspberry on GC-1 Spermatogonial Cells and Rat Testes.

Raspberry is one of the herbal medicines used to improve male reproductive malfunction in traditional medicine. We investigated the effects of raspberry extract on male reproductive functions associated with spermatogenesis and CREM (cAMP-responsive element modulator) gene expression, which has a crucial role in spermatogenesis. In this study, we examined the protective effects of raspberry extract in GC-1 spermatogonial cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced injuries in vitro. And raspberry extract was administered to 8-week-old male Wistar rats for 56 consecutive days (1.0 g/kg/day, p.o.). Sperm analysis, testosterone assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot assays for were then carried out. At the concentration of 1, 5, 10, 50 µg/ml of raspberry extract, GC-1 spg cells showed an obvious increase in cell proliferation and cell recovery against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. In catalase assay, catalase activity of raspberry extract treated groups have increased as 52.9% than those of control groups. Administration of raspberry extract intensively increased the weight of the rat testes, epididymal sperm count, and sperm motility, testosterone level compared to the control group in vivo. Raspberry extract also increased the expression of CREM at both the mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, these results imply that raspberry has a protective effect of GC-1 spg cells against oxidative stress and spermatogenic effect on male reproductive system of rats.

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