China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 1023-1032.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.045

• Basic Veterinary Medicine • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Protective Effect of Catechin on LPS-induced Inflammatory Injury in Mouse Mammary Glands via SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway

WANG Linying1(), TONG Jiang1(), ZHANG Qiuyun2, YAO Xinhui1, WANG Li1, WEN Haojie1, SU Qing1, LI Xiao1,3, TONG Chao1, WANG Xuebing1(), WANG Hongli4()   

  1. 1.College of Veterinary Medicine,Henan Agricultural University,Zhengzhou 450002,China
    2.Jiaxian Red Bull Industry Development Center,Pingdingshan 467199,China
    3.Henan Province High-Tech Industrial Co. ,Ltd. ,Zhengzhou 450002,China
    4.Jiaxian Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center,Pingdingshan 467199,China
  • Received:2025-04-30 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: WANG Xuebing, WANG Hongli E-mail:wly15515811495@163.com;tongjiang9@163.com;xbwang74@163.com;wanghl5566@163.com

Abstract:

Objective This experiment aimed to explore the protective effect of catechin on mice with mastitis, and to study the regulatory role of the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) signaling pathway in ferroptosis. Method Twenty female mice that had given birth within 7-10 days were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups: Blank control group, LPS model group, catechin low-dose group (40 mg/kg), catechin high-dose group (80 mg/kg), and dexamethasone positive control group. The mice in low- and high-dose catechin groups were intragastrically administered with catechin at the corresponding concentration, while the mice in other groups were given the same dose of normal saline (0.3 mL per mouse), for 7 days. After the intragastric administration was completed, the mice in positive control group were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μL of 2 mg/mL dexamethasone. Two hours later, except for blank control group, the mice in other groups were injected with 50 μL of 0.2 mg/mL LPS on each side of the fourth pair of nipples through mammary duct to establish the mastitis model. The weight changes of the mice in each group after the modeling were compared. The histological changes of the mammary glands in each group of mice were observed through HE staining. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mammary gland were detected by biochemical kits. The expression levels of GPX4, SLC7A11 and ferritin heavy chain (FTH) proteins in mammary gland were detected by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of FTH and GPX4 proteins. Result Compared with blank control group, the body weight of mice in LPS group showed a downward trend, while the body weight of mice in catechin treatment groups showed an upward trend. HE staining results showed that the mammary gland acini of mice in blank control group were intact and no inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. In LPS group, there was a significant infiltration of inflammatory cells and atrophy of the mammary gland lobules in the mice.These pathological damages were substantially alleviated in both the high- and low-dose catechin groups, as well as in dexamethasone positive control group. Compared with blank control group, the content of MDA in mammary gland of mice in LPS group significantly increased, and the activity of SOD significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with LPS group, the content of MDA in mammary gland of mice in high- and low-dose catechin groups significantly decreased, and the activity of SOD significantly increased (P<0.05). Western blotting results showed that compared with blank control group, the expression levels of GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH proteins in mammary gland of mice in LPS group were significantly decreased (P<0.05).Compared with LPS group, the expression levels of GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH proteins in mammary gland of mice in high- and low-dose catechin groups were significantly increased (P<0.05). The results of immunofluorescence detection showed that, compared with blank control group, the relative fluorescence intensities of GPX4 and FTH proteins in mammary gland of mice in LPS group significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with LPS group, the relative fluorescence intensities of GPX4 and FTH proteins in mammary gland of mice in high-dose catechin group significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Catechins could significantly alleviate the damage caused by LPS-induced mastitis in mice, and the protective effect was closely related to the inhibition of ferroptosis. Catechins enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the body by upregulating the expression of SLC7A11, promoting the activity of GPX4, and ultimately reducing the accumulation of MDA, thereby exerting an inhibitory effect on ferroptosis.

Key words: catechins; mastitis; ferroptosis; SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway

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