Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37515670›Full record

ArticleBiological trace element research2024

Zinc Supplementation Reduces Testicular Cell Apoptosis in Mice and Improves Spermatogenic Dysfunction Caused by Marginal Zinc Deficiency.

Xiangchao Zeng, Ziqiong Wang, Lu Yu, Lei Wang, Yueling Liu, Yuxin Chen, Chunhong Wang

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Biological trace element research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. CanInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Effects of short term dietary zinc deficiency and zinc supplementation on nitro-oxidative stress in testes of Wistar rats.Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Xiangchao ZengDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Ziqiong WangDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Lu YuDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Lei WangDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Yueling LiuDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Yuxin ChenDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
Chunhong WangDepartment of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. wchunhong027@whu.edu.cn.
Wuhan University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an important trace element in the human body and plays an important role in growth, development, and male reproductive functions. Marginal zinc deficiency (MZD) is common in the human population and can cause spermatogenic dysfunction in males. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate methods to improve spermatogenic dysfunction caused by MZD and to further explore its mechanism of action. A total of 75 4-week-old male SPF ICR mice were randomly divided into five groups (control, MZD, MZD + ZnY2, MZD + ZnY4, and MZD + ZnY8, 15 mice per group). The dietary Zn content was 30 mg/kg in the control group and 10 mg/kg in the other groups. From low to high, the Zn supplementation doses administered to the three groups were 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg·bw. After 35 days, the zinc content, sperm quality, activity of spermatogenic enzymes, oxidative stress level, and apoptosis level of the testes in mice were determined. The results showed that MZD decreased the level of Zn in the serum, sperm quality, and activity of spermatogenic enzymes in mice. After Zn supplementation, the Zn level in the serum increased, sperm quality was significantly improved, and spermatogenic enzyme activity was restored. In addition, MZD reduced the content of antioxidants (copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), metallothionein (MT), and glutathione (GSH) and promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) production. The apoptosis index of the testis also increased significantly in the MZD group. After Zn supplementation, the level of oxidative stress decreased, and the apoptosis index in the testis was reduced. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) mRNA and Bcl-2/BCL2-associated X (Bax) in the control group decreased in testicular cells, and their expression was restored after Zn supplementation. The results of this study indicated that Zn supplementation can reduce the level of oxidative stress and increase the ability of testicular cells to resist apoptosis, thereby improving spermatogenic dysfunction caused by MZD in mice.

Indexed as

TestisZincAnimalsAntioxidantsApoptosisDietary SupplementsGlutathioneHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred ICROxidative StressProto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2SemenAntioxidantsGlutathioneProto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2ZincApoptosisMarginal zinc deficiencyOxidative stressSpermatogenic dysfunctionZinc supplementation

Identifiers

PMID37515670
OpenAlexW4385381886

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.