ObjectiveTo investigate the TCM pathogenesis of male infertility through analyzing the characteristics of the pulse of oligoathenoteratospermia patients.MethodsRetrospect analysis was performed to get the pulse characteristics of oligoathenoteratospermia patients.The relation between the regularity of pulse and oligoathenoteratospermia was studied.ResultsThe pulse of oligoathenoteratospermia patients mainly presented at the both guan pulses and the both chi pulses,especially at the left guan pulse and the right chi pulse with thready pulse,wiry pulse,slippery pulse,uneven pulse,and moderate pulse,besides there were some differences of pulse between oligospermia and asthenozoospermia.ConclusionThe liver and kidney were the main location of oligoathenoteratospermia,and the main pathogenesis was asthenia of kidney,blood stasis,and dampness-heat.

OBJECTIVE: To further probe the mechanisms of herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver in reversing bile lithogenicity of guinea pig. METHODS: Sixty guinea pigs were divided randomly into control group (fed with normal diet, n=20), model group (fed with lithogenic diet, n=20) and treatment group (fed with lithogenic diet plus herbal medicine, n=20). After four-week feeding, the animals were sacrificed and sampled, the rates of gallstone formation in each group were estimated, and the total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), conjugated bilirubin (CB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), and calcium ion in the bile were determined, and the different bilirubins were analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: (1) The rate of gallstone formation was 5% in normal group, 81.25% in model group and 31.25% in treatment group (P<0.05). (2) The bile TBIL, CB, UCB and Ca(2+) were higher and the bile TBA was lower significantly in model group than that in the other two groups (P<0.05). (3) HPLC analysis revealed that MCB was higher and DCB was lower significantly in model group (P<0.01), and there were no significant differences of UCB and IPA among the three groups. (4) The percentages of MCB and UCB were much higher and the percentage of DCB was remarkably lower in model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver can significantly reduce the rate of gallstone formation and has effect of reversing lithogenicity of bile in guinea pigs fed with lithogenic diet.