OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with different frequencies on spermatogenic function, testicular morphology and oxidative stress in oligoasthenospermia (OAT) rats, and to explore the mechanism and the optimal parameters of EA for OAT. METHODS: Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into a solvent control group, a model group, a 2 Hz EA group, a 100 Hz EA group and a 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for the solvent control group, the other 4 groups were administered ornidazole suspension (800 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) by gavage for 28 d to establish the OAT model. Starting from the 1st of modeling, EA was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV4), "Qihai" (CV6) and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) and "Zusanli" (ST36) in the 3 EA groups, continuous wave of 2 Hz, continuous wave of 100 Hz, and disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/100 Hz were used in the 2 Hz EA group, the 100 Hz EA group, and the 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group, respectively, with current intensity of 1-3 mA, 30 min a time, once every other day, for 28 consecutive days. After intervention, the testicular index was calculated, epididymal sperm quality was assessed, and the fertility ability was observed; morphology of testicular tissue was observed by HE staining, and the Johnson score was calculated; the positive expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in testicular tissue was detected by immunofluorescence; the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in testicular tissue were measured by ELISA; the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in testicular tissue was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the solvent control group, in the model group, the testicular index, sperm concentration, sperm motility and the number of offspring were decreased (P<0.01), the seminiferous tubules atrophied and the Johnson score decreased (P<0.01); the activity of SOD and CAT, as well as the protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in testicular tissue were decreased (P<0.01); the sperm deformity rate, the positive expression of ROS and the MDA level in testicular tissue were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the 2 Hz EA group, the 100 Hz EA group and the 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group, the testicular index, sperm concentration, sperm motility and the number of offspring were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the pathological morphology of testicular tissue improved and the Johnson scores increased (P<0.01); the activity of SOD and CAT, as well as the protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in testicular tissue were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the sperm deformity rate, the positive expression of ROS and the MDA level in testicular tissue were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the 2 Hz EA group, in the 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group, the testicular index, sperm concentration, sperm motility, as well as the CAT activity and HO-1 protein expression in testicular tissue were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05); the positive expression of ROS was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the 100 Hz EA group, in the 2 Hz/100 Hz EA group, the testicular index was increased (P<0.01), the positive expression of ROS in testicular tissue was decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION EA with 2 Hz continuous wave, 100 Hz continuous wave, and 2 Hz/100 Hz disperse-dense wave can all improve the spermatogenic arrest and reduce the level of oxidative stress in testicular tissue in OAT rats, the mechanism may be related to up-regulating the protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 and improving oxidative stress. EA with disperse-dense wave of 2 Hz/100 Hz shows the optimal effect.
Male ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatogenesis ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Humans ; Testis/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Asthenozoospermia/genetics* ; Acupuncture Points ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism*

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Chronic prostatitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in male clinics. Due to the diverse symptoms， complex etiology， unclear mechanisms， and recurrent episodes of chronic prostatitis， Western medicine often faces the challenge of limited treatment options and unsatisfactory outcomes. In order to fully leverage the unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of chronic prostatitis， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized a discussion among experts from the fields of TCM urology， Western urology， and related pharmacy. The experts focused on the advancements in the understanding of chronic prostatitis in modern medicine， various theories on the etiology， pathogenesis， and treatment of chronic prostatitis in TCM， entry points from interdisciplinary fields， the role and advantages of TCM in the comprehensive management of chronic prostatitis， and research into mechanisms related to chronic prostatitis. After discussions， the experts concluded that chronic prostatitis is one of the diseases where TCM has a distinct advantage. TCM can effectively improve the clinical syndromes of chronic prostatitis， including urinary issues， social psychology， organ specificity， infection， nervous system problems， pain and discomfort， sexual dysfunction， etc.， and can enhance the quality of life. For patients with chronic prostatitis who cannot tolerate or may not accept the adverse effects of Western medicine， as well as for those with non-inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome （CP/CPPS）， those with pain as the primary symptom， those with urinary tract symptoms， those with coexisting anxiety and depression， and those with abnormal semen liquefaction， TCM-based treatment can be the main approach. Currently， the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for chronic prostatitis has not yet been established， and further research from perspectives such as clinical epidemiology， evidence-based medicine， and molecular biology is needed. Both TCM and Western medicine should integrate their respective strengths， clarify the role and advantages of TCM interventions based on mutual reference， and improve the diagnosis and treatment standards for chronic prostatitis in China.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.

Objective To explore the mechanism of the therapy of promoting blood circulation and nourishing yin(PBCNY)in improving spermatogenesis in rats with varicocele based on Bcl-2/Bax pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups(five rats per group):sham,model,levocarnitine(1.0 g/kg),and PBCNY low-dose(5.2 g/kg),PBCNY medium-dose(10.4 g/kg),and PBCNY high-dose(20.8 g/kg)groups.Apart from the sham group,all the groups were built a varicocele model by the classical Turner method.After 4 weeks,the sham group and model group were gavaged with normal saline,and the remaining groups were given with levocarnitine or different doses of PBCNY decoction once a day for 4 weeks.At the end of gavage,the sperm quality of rats in each group was detected by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer,and HE staining was used to observe the testicular tissue morphology of rats in each group and performed with Johnsen score.TUNEL method was used to detect apoptosis,RT-qPCR was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect cytochrome C protein expression.Results Compared to the sham group,sperm total count,motility rate and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility were lower in the model group of rats(P<0.05).HE staining showed disturbed arrangement of seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue with significant changes and decreased Johnsen score(P<0.05).The result of TUNEL assay showed that the apoptosis rate was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Bax mRNA expression was increased in testicular tissue(P<0.05).The result of immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression of cytochrome C was increased in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the rat sperm total count in the PBCNY medium-dose group,motility rate in the PBCNY low-and medium-dose groups,and percentage of sperm with grade(a+b)motility in the PBCNY low-dose group increased(P<0.05);the pathological structure of rat testis had different degrees of improvement,and Johnsen score increased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the apoptosis rate of testicular cells decreased in the levocarnitine group and all doses of PBCNY groups(P<0.05);the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA increased in the PBCNY low-dose and high-dose groups(P<0.05),and the expression of Bax mRNA decreased in the levocarnitine group and the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05);the positive expression of cytochrome C decreased in the PBCNY medium-dose group(P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of PBCNY can improve sperm quality,repair damaged testicular tissue structure and improve spermatogenic function in rats with varicocele,and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Bcl-2/Bax pathway and inhibition of cell apoptosis.