Molecular Analysis of PICK1 Mediating TLR4 in Testicular Cells

Background: Rodent pests cause significant damage to the national economy and human health in China. Rodent infertility control technology offers a new and less toxic approach to managing rodent pests. The use of a plant complex sterility agent has shown the potential to induce male infertility, but the molecular mechanism behind this effect remains unclear and requires further investigation. Methods: Sixty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to control, low-dose (10 mg/kg of plant complex sterility agent containing shikonin and acetylstilbestrol), and high-dose (20 mg/kg of plant complex sterility agent) groups. The rats received intragastric administration of the agent for 30 days. Sperm count and testosterone levels were assessed to evaluate fertility. The protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) levels in the control group, low-dose group, and high-dose group were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western Blotting (WB). Results: In comparison to the control group, both the sperm concentration (p < 0.05) and the levels of testosterone (p < 0.05), PICK1 (P < 0.05), and TLR4 (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the low dose and high dose groups. These changes were confirmed through microscopy, ELISA, IHC, and WB. Conclusion: The plant complex sterility agent demonstrates potential in reducing sperm concentration and down-regulating testosterone levels. It likely exerts its effects by impairing male fertility in rats through the inhibition of PICK1 and TLR4 protein levels