Tr. Xu et al., A nerve growth factor from the venom of Chinese cobra (Naja naja atra) andits effects on male reproductive system in rats, COMP BIOC C, 124(2), 1999, pp. 149-156
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-PHARMACOLOGY TOXICOLOGY & ENDOCRINOLOGY
A nerve growth factor (NGF) was isolated from the venom of Chinese cobra (N
aja naja ntr a) by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration and fast pro
tein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The N-terminal sequence of 22 amino acid
residues was identical with other NGFs previously purified from the venom
of the same genus. The NGF monomer molecular weight was estimated to be 13
500 by reducing SDS-PAGE and the isoelectric point was determined to be 7.2
by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis. NGF improved the epididymal sperm
motility of male rats and increased the pregnancy rate and fetus number of
mated female rats. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follic
le stimulating hormone (FSH) of male rats administrated NGF + gossypol was
lower than that of male rats administrated gossypol. Histological sections
of testes and epididymides showed that NGF reduced the destructive effects
of gossypol on rat testes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserv
ed.