OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of Schizandra Chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) on cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced dyszoospermia of rats and its effects on reproductive hormones.

METHODSSCP was extracted by ethanol-alkali solution. Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the low dose SCP group (100 mg/kg), the middle dose SCP group (200 mg/kg), and the high dose SCP group (400 mg/kg). Except the normal control group, the dyezoospermia rat model was established by peritoneal injection of CTX at the daily dose of 80 mg/kg, once daily for 5 successive days. After modeling, SCP was intragastrically administered at corresponding dose to the three SCP groups. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group by gastrogavage. All the medication was performed once daily for 60 successive days. The blood serum and testis were withdrawal 24 h after the last intragastric administration. The levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in the testis homogenate were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The sperm count, the motility rate, and the teratospermia rate were compared. The morphology of the testis was observed using HE staining.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the sperm count and the motility rate decreased, the teratospermia rate increased, the serum levels of FSH and LH increased, the T content in the testis homogenate decreased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, the sperm count and the motility rate increased, the teratospermia rate decreased, the serum levels of FSH and LH decreased, the T content in the testis homogenate increased in the model group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01, P <0.05). All the indices showed dose-dependent manner in the SCP groups. The histological results showed the pathological injury in the testicular tissue was improved in all SCP groups.

CONCLUSIONSCP showed obvious therapeutical effects on CTX induced dyszoospermia in rats, and its mechanisms might be correlate with recovering the regulation function of hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis.