OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Zhibai Dihuang Decocion (ZDD) on the pathological changes and the ultrastructure of the testicular tissue in the ureaplasma urealyticum (UU)-infected rats.

METHODSThe UU infected animal models were established by the bladder inoculation. The 45 UU infected SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the ZDD treatment group (at the daily dose of 2 g/100 g), the Minocycline group (at the daily dose of 10 mg/100 g), the model group, 15 in each group. Besides, another 15 rats were recruited as the sham-operation group. The medication was started 10 days after vaccination. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the sham-operation group by gastrogavage for 22 successive days. Rats were sacrificed on the 2nd day of medication discontinuation. The testicle mass index was detected. The ultra-structure and the pathological changes of the testicular tissue were observed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the rat testicular mass index (P>0.05). UU infection can lead to the pathological changes such as atrophy of seminiferous tubules, germ cell loss, and reduction of sperm cells in lumen, and to the ultrastructural changes such as spermatogenic cell nuclear membrane shrinkage, nuclear breakdown, and obvious edema of mitochondria. The pathological changes and the ultrastructures were improved in the medication groups. Rm and Rs the were not overlapping, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Rm, Rzh, and Rx were not overlapping, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Rzh and Rx were overlapping in 95% Cl with no statistical difference (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUU infection can cause the pathological changes and the ultrastructural changes of the testicular tissue at the organic level and the cellular level. ZDD played therapeutic effects through ameliorating its pathological changes and the ultrastructural changes of spermatogenic cells.