Cordycepin mitigates spermatogenic and redox related expression in H2O2-exposed Leydig cells and regulates testicular oxidative apoptotic signalling in aged rats

Cordycepin (COR), from Cordyceps militaris L., (Cordycipitaceae), is a valuable agent with immense health benefits. The protective effects of COR in ageing-associated oxidative and apoptosis events in vivo and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-exposed spermatogenesis gene alterations in TM3 Leydig cells was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into young control (YC), aged control (AC) and COR treated (COR-20) aged groups. COR-20 group received daily doses of COR (20 mg/kg) for 6 months. Cell viability and hormone levels were analysed by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] and enzyme immunoassay kits with COR treated at 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL. Oxidative enzymes, spermatogenic, and apoptotic expression in testis tissues were evaluated by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. COR treatment (1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) significantly (p