Effect of Epimedium davidii on testosterone content, substance metabolism and exercise capacity in rats receiving exercise training
- Author:
Hai-Tao ZHOU
1
Author Information
1. Beijing Union University
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Anti-fatigue;
Epimedium davidii;
Follicle-stimulating hormone;
Luteinizing hormone;
Testosterone
- From:
Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal
2013;48(1):25-29
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Epimedium davidii on the content of testosterone, substance metabolism and anti-fatigue ability of rats. METHODS: High-intensity endurance training rat model was used. Fifty 6-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, with 15 in each group(the rats which did not meet the requirement were removed): still ig water group (C group), exercise ig water group (T group), and exercise ig Epimedium davidii group (TM group). Gavage was performed using professional device once a day. The rats in TM group were administered at a dose of 5 g · kg-1 with ig volume of 5 mL · kg-1. The rats in C and T groups were given saline of same volume. After 42 d of exhaustive swimming training, body weight, swimming time and serum testosterone and other biochemical markers were measured. RESULTS: The body weights of the rats in TM group were greater than those in T group (P < 0.05), and the swimming time was longer than T group (P < 0.01). Exhaustive swimming led to decreased serum testosterone, for which T group decreased by 28.85% more than C group(P < 0.01). Compared with T group, TM group increased by 28.21% (P < 0.01)in serum testosterone; the serum corticosterone levels in each group showed no significant differences, and the serum testosterone/corticosterone ratios changed in line with testosterone; liver glycogen and muscle glycogen reserves decreased. Compared with C group, the T groups glycogen decreased by 26.40% (P < 0.01), muscle glycogen decreased by 54.83% (P < 0.01). Compared with T group, TM group had 20.68% higher liver glycogen(P < 0.05) and 82.76% higher muscle glycogen(P < 0.01); FSH had no significant difference; blood urea increased and hemoglobin decreased compared with C group. Blood urea of T group increased by 66.32% (P < 0.01), and the hemoglobin decreased by 35.89% (P < 0.01); compared with T group, TM group had 27.85% lower blood urea (P < 0.01) and 41.23% higher hemoglobin (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Epimedium davidii can alleviate the impact of high-intensity exercise on serum testosterone, and maintain it at normal physiological level; it can also promote protein synthesis, inhibit degradation of amino acid and protein, and increase hemoglobin and glycogen reserves in rats receiving exercise training. Copyright 2013 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.
