L-carnitine improves the reproductive function of male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia.
- Author:
Wen ZHANG
1
;
Qing-Zhen LIU
;
Xue-Jun SHANG
;
Yu-Feng HUANG
;
Hao-Yang WANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Asthenozoospermia; chemically induced; drug therapy; Carnitine; therapeutic use; Male; Ornidazole; adverse effects; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Treatment Outcome
- From: National Journal of Andrology 2009;15(7):604-607
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) on the reproductive function of male rats with asthenospermia induced by ornidazole (ORN).
METHODSForty male SD rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into Groups A (control: 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose solution), B (medium-dose ORN: 400 mg/kg/d), C (medium-dose ORN + LC: ORN 400 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d), D (high-dose ORN: 800 mg/kg/d), and E (high-dose ORN + LC: ORN 800 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d). All the rats were treated via gastric gavage for 20 days consecutively, and then killed for the detection of sperm motility and the sperm count of the cauda epididymis.
RESULTSCompared with Group A, there was a significant decrease in sperm motility and sperm count in Groups B and D (P < 0.05), while Group C showed a significant increase in both the parameters as compared with B (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference from A (P > 0.05). Group E exhibited no obvious improvement in sperm motility and sperm count, with no difference from D (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONL-carnitine can improve the sperm motility and sperm count of the male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia.
