1.Effect of Erxian Decoction on cyclophosphamide-induced oligospermia in mice.
Bo LIU ; Ye-Zi LI ; Qi WU ; Shuo YANG ; Ying WANG ; Hui-Hui XIE ; Zhi-Wen LIU
National Journal of Andrology 2018;24(6):547-552
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Erxian Decoction (EXD) on oligospermia (OS) induced by cyclophosphamide in mice.
METHODSEighty 6-week-old male Kunming mice were randomly divided into five groups of equal number, normal control, OS model control, and low-, medium- and high-dose EXD, the former two groups treated intragastrically with normal saline and the latter three with EXD at 3, 6 and 12 g per kg of the body weight qd for 30 days. From the 21st day of administration, the mice of the normal control group were injected intraperitoneally with saline and those of the other four groups with cyclophosphamide at 80 mg per kg of the body weight qd for 5 consecutive days. At 24 hours after the last gavage, the bilateral epididymides of the mice were collected and sperm suspension prepared for determination of the sperm count and motility, and the bilateral testes were harvested for histomorphological observation and measurement of the concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MAD) and glutathione (GSH) in the testis tissue.
RESULTSCompared with the normal controls, the mice of the OS model control group showed significant decreases in epididymal sperm concentration ([9.31 ± 1.32] vs [3.32 ± 1.13]×107/ml, P <0.01) and motility ([44.75 ± 8.12]% vs [25.95 ± 11.41], P<0.01) and the concentrations of SOD ([37.27 ± 0.99] vs [14.23 ± 1.99] U/mg prot, P <0.01) and GSH ([101.55 ± 8.74] vs [58.77 ± 8.93] μmol/L, P <0.01) but an obvious increase in the MDA level ([2.21 ± 0.65] vs [2.61 ± 0.15] nmol/mg prot, P <0.05) in the testis tissue. In comparison with the OS model controls, the mice treated with low-, medium- and high-dose EXD exhibited significantly increased epididymal sperm concentration ([8.34 ± 2.59], [8.59 ± 1.10] and [8.41 ± 1.47]×107/ml) (P <0.01) and motility ([36.04 ± 12.33]%, [38.87 ± 13.13]% and [41.90 ± 8.09]%) (P <0.01) and concentrations of SOD ([22.99 ± 1.11], [20.82 ± 1.81] and [21.33 ± 1.66] U/mg prot) (P <0.01) and GSH ([104.74 ± 2.47], [98.61 ± 12.98] and [108.89 ± 5.85] μmol/L) (P <0.01) but decreased level of MDA (P <0.05).
CONCLUSIONSErxian Decoction can improve cyclophosphamide-induced reduction of sperm concentration and motility, which might be associated with its abilities of resisting oxidation and reducing oxidative stress injury.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; Glutathione ; analysis ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Mice ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Oxidative Stress ; Random Allocation ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis ; Testis ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; drug effects
2.Huanshao Capsules for oligoasthenospermia: A multicentered clinical trial.
Chang-Hai YANG ; Zhong-Yi SUN ; Bo WANG ; Shun-de WANG ; Jun GUO ; Fu WANG
National Journal of Andrology 2018;24(7):635-639
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia with spleen and kidney asthenia.
METHODSThis randomized, open, multicentered, positive drug controlled clinical trial included 200 cases of oligoasthenospermia with spleen and kidney asthenia, which were assigned to a trial and a control group of equal number to be treated with HSC at the dose of 3 capsules tid and Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, respectively, both for 12 weeks. We compared the semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm motility and percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) as the main therapeutic indicators as well as the pregnancy rate as the secondary therapeutic indicator between the two groups of patients before and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after medication.
RESULTSTotally, 190 of the patients completed the clinical observation, 96 in the trial and 94 in the control group. Compared with the baseline, the patients of the trial group showed significant time-dependent increases at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after medication in the mean sperm concentration (14.78 vs 15.33, 20.98 and 28.78 ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.05), percentage of grade a sperm (12.17% vs 15.05%, 21.17% and 26.97%, P < 0.05), PMS (24.78% vs 28.97%, 37.23% and 47.67%, P < 0.05), and sperm viability (38.64% vs 44.18%, 51.67% and 60.45%, P < 0.05). The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the trial than in the control group 29.17% vs 18.09%, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONSHuanshao Capsules can improve the semen quality and pregnancy rate in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia patients with spleen and kidney asthenia, and therefore deserves a wide clinical application.
Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Treatment Outcome
3.Lipoic acid protects spermatogenesis in male rats with ornidazole-induced oligoasthenozoospermia.
Guo-Wei ZHANG ; Xiu-Xia WAN ; Chang-Chun WAN ; Kai-Qiang LI ; Yi-Ze LI ; Zhi-Qiang WENG ; Xue-Jun SHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2018;24(4):297-303
ObjectiveTo study the protective effect of lipoic acid (LA) on the spermatogenic function of the male rats with oligoasthenozoospermia induced by ornidazole (ORN).
METHODSSeventy male SD rats were equally randomized into groups A (solvent control: 1 ml 0.5% CMC-Na + 1 ml olive oil), B (low-dose ORN model: 400 mg/kg ORN suspension + 1 ml olive oil), C (low-dose ORN + low-dose LA treatment: 400 mg/kg ORN + 50 mg/kg LA), D (low-dose ORN + high-dose LA treatment: 400 mg/kg ORN + 100 mg/kg LA), E (high-dose ORN model: 800 mg/kg ORN suspension + 1 ml olive oil), F (high-dose ORN + low-dose LA treatment: 800 mg/kg ORN + 50 mg/kg LA), and G (high-dose ORN + high-dose LA treatment: 800 mg/kg ORN + 100 mg/kg LA), and treated respectively for 20 successive days. Then all the rats were sacrificed and the weights of the body, testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle obtained, followed by calculation of the organ index, determination of epididymal sperm concentration and motility, and observation of the histomorphological changes in the testis and epididymis by HE staining.
RESULTSCompared with group A, group E showed significantly decreased body weight ([117.67 ± 11.53] vs [88.11 ± 12.65] g, P < 0.01) and indexes of the testis ([1.06 ± 0.12] vs [0.65 ± 0.13] %, P < 0.01) and epididymis ([0.21 ± 0.03] vs [0.17 ± 0.01] %, P < 0.01). In comparison with group E, group F exhibited remarkable increases in the epididymal index ([0.17 ± 0.01] vs [0.20 ± 0.02] %, P < 0.01), and so did group G in the body weight ([88.11 ± 12.65] vs [102.70 ± 16.10] g, P < 0.05) and the indexes of the testis ([0.65 ± 0.13] vs [0.95 ± 0.06] %, P < 0.01) and epididymis ([0.17 ± 0.01] vs [0.19 ± 0.02] %, P < 0.05), but no obvious difference was observed in the index of seminal vesicle among different groups. Compared with group A, group B manifested significant decreases in sperm motility ([74.12 ± 8.73] vs [40.25 ± 6.08] %, P < 0.01), and so did group E in sperm count ([38.59 ± 6.40] vs [18.67 ± 4.59] ×105/100 mg, P < 0.01) and sperm motility ([74.12 ± 8.73] vs [27.58 ± 8.43] %, P < 0.01). Sperm motility was significantly lower in group B than in C and D ([40.25 ± 6.08] vs [58.13 ± 7.62] and [76.04 ± 8.44]%, P < 0.01), and so were sperm count and motility in group E than in F and G ([18.67 ± 4.59] vs [25.63 ± 9.66] and [29.92 ± 4.15] ×105/100 mg, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01; [27.58 ± 8.43] vs [36.56 ± 11.08] and [45.05 ± 9.59] %, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). There were no obvious changes in the histomorphology of the testis and epididymis in groups A, B, C and D. Compared with group A, group E showed necrotic and exfoliated spermatogenic cells with unclear layers and disorderly arrangement in the seminiferous tubules and remarkably reduced sperm count with lots of noncellular components in the epididymal cavity, while groups F and G exhibited increased sperm count in the seminiferous tubules and epididymis lumen, also with exfoliation, unclear layers and disorderly arrangement of spermatogenic cells, but significantly better than in group E.
CONCLUSIONSLA can reduce ORN-induced damage to the spermatogenetic function of rats, improve sperm quality, and protect the reproductive system.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Male ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Ornidazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Seminiferous Tubules ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Testis ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; Thioctic Acid ; pharmacology
4.Qilin Pills for idiopathic oligoasthenospermia: A multi-centered randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial.
Jia-Ming MAO ; Hui JIANG ; Chuan-Hang WANG ; Ke-Qin NING ; Ji-Hong LIU ; Shu-Wen YANG ; Hai-Song LI ; Shao-Hu ZHOU ; Zhi-Chao ZHANG ; Ji-Xiu XU ; Yong-Han HUANG
National Journal of Andrology 2017;23(3):251-255
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Qilin Pills in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia in infertile men.
METHODS:
This multi-centered randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial included 216 infertile males with oligoasthenospermia, 108 in the trial group and the other 108 in the control, the former treated with Qilin Pills at the dose of 6 g tid while the latter with Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, both for 12 weeks. We examined the total sperm count, sperm motility and the count of progressively motile sperm of the patients before and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after medication and evaluated the safety of the drug based on the adverse events and the laboratory results of blood and urine routine examinations and liver and kidney function tests.
RESULTS:
Compared with the baseline, the patients in the trial group showed a significant time-dependent improvement after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of medication in sperm motility (21.75% vs 27.54%, 29.04% and 32.95%, P <0.05), total sperm count (156.27 ×106 vs 177.33, 188.18 and 205.44 ×106, P <0.05), and the count of progressively motile sperm (32.08 ×10⁶/ml vs 46.33, 50.98 and 61.10 ×10⁶/ml, P <0.05). The three parameters above were also improved in the controls, but more significantly in the trial group (P <0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Qilin Pills can evidently improve the semen quality of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events.
Asthenozoospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Capsules
;
Double-Blind Method
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
therapeutic use
;
Humans
;
Infertility, Male
;
drug therapy
;
Male
;
Oligospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Semen Analysis
;
Sperm Count
;
Sperm Motility
;
Treatment Outcome
5.Therapeutic effect of Jinghuosu on oligospermia and asthenospermia.
De-Feng LIU ; Xue-Jun SHANG ; Ji-Can DAI ; Tao-Fei YAN ; Zhi-Yong LIU ; Long-Jie GU ; Ya-Zhong JI ; Lei CHEN ; Hui JIANG
National Journal of Andrology 2017;23(3):227-228
Objective:
To investigate the effects of the compound preparation Jinghuosu on oligospermia and asthenospermia.
METHODS:
This multi-centered clinical study included 120 cases of mild to moderate idiopathic oligospermia or asthenospermia, all treated with oral Jinghuosu once a bag, bid, for 3 successive months. Before and at 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment, we detected sperm concentration, total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and normal sperm morphology of each ejaculate, and recorded whether the patients had any adverse reactions.
RESULTS:
After 3 months of treatment, all the patients showed obvious improvement in semen parameters, most significantly in sperm concentration, total sperm motility, and the percentages of progressive motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm (P <0.05). No significant adverse reactions were observed during the 3 months of medication.
CONCLUSIONS
Jinghuosu has a significant efficacy and no obvious adverse effect in the treatment of mild to moderate oligospermia and asthenospermia.
Asthenozoospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
therapeutic use
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Oligospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Semen
;
drug effects
;
physiology
;
Sperm Count
;
Sperm Motility
6.Advances in the studies of lipoic acid in male infertility.
Guo-Wei ZHANG ; Wei LIU ; Xue-Jun SHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2017;23(1):82-86
Lipoic acid (LA) is widely present in the body as a disulfide compound with an extensive biological activity and a strong antioxidant capacity. LA plays an antioxidant role by removing oxygen free radicals, chelating metal ions, and regenerating other antioxidants in the body. Recent studies have shown the effects of LA in the prevention or treatment of male reproductive disorders, such as idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction and infertility, serious infection in the reproductive system, and reproductive system injuries caused by chemotherapeutic agents, ionizing radiation, environmental toxins, testicular ischemia reperfusion, excessive exercise, and so on.
Animals
;
Antioxidants
;
therapeutic use
;
Asthenozoospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Diabetes Mellitus
;
drug therapy
;
Erectile Dysfunction
;
drug therapy
;
Humans
;
Infertility, Male
;
drug therapy
;
Male
;
Oligospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Oxidative Stress
;
Thioctic Acid
;
physiology
;
therapeutic use
7.ilin Pills for oligoasthenospermia: Advances in clinical studies.
Kai-Shu ZHANG ; Long-Long FU ; Xue-Jun SHANG ; Yi-Qun GU
National Journal of Andrology 2017;23(10):938-941
Industrialization and environmental pollution are bringing more problems to human reproduction and increasing the prevalence of male infertility. Western medicine has shown its limitations in the management of male infertility, especially that of oligoasthenospermia. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), however, has long and rich experiences in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia, with a large variety of medicinal prescriptions based on the TCM theories, among which Qilin Pills shows a particularly significant therapeutic effect on oligoasthenospermia, especially when combined with Western medicine. At present, published studies on Qilin Pills are mainly in the stage of clinical observation, while basic researches and studies on its relevant mechanisms are rarely seen.
Asthenozoospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
therapeutic use
;
Humans
;
Infertility, Male
;
drug therapy
;
Male
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Oligospermia
;
drug therapy
8.Efficacy of alpha-lipoic acid combined with tamoxifen citrate in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia.
Hang ZHANG ; Ya-Xuan WANG ; Jing-Dong LI ; Xue-Liang CHANG ; Zhi-Hai TENG ; Yan-Ping ZHANG ; Shu-Wen YANG ; Wei LI
National Journal of Andrology 2017;23(10):899-902
Objective:
To investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) combined with tamoxifen citrate (TC) in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia.
METHODS:
From June to November 2016, we treated 60 patients with oligoasthenospermia in our Department of Andrology, 30 (the trial group) with oral α-LA (0.6 g, qd) + TC (20 mg, qd) and the other 30 (the control group) with oral L-carnitine (1g, bid) + TC (20 mg, qd). Before and after 3 months of medication, we examined the semen parameters of the patients and the levels of their seminal oxidative stress biomarkers, including methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the seminal plasma. We also compared the pregnancy rate and adverse reactions between the two groups.
RESULTS:
Totally, 57 of the patients completed the treatment, 28 in the trial group and 29 in the control. Compared with the baseline, the patients of the trial group showed significant improvement after 3 months of medication in the semen volume ([2.50 ± 0.71] vs [3.37 ± 0.70] ml, P <0.05), sperm concentration ([12.00 ± 1.65] vs [19.34 ± 2.04] ×10⁶/ml, P <0.05), percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) ([18.01 ± 3.01]% vs [35.41 ± 6.49]%, P<0.05), MDA level ([14.96 ± 2.76] vs [10.04 ± 1.04] nmol/ml, P <0.05), and TAC in the seminal plasma ([9.83 ± 1.02] vs [12.25 ± 1.11] U/ml, P <0.05), and so did the controls in the semen volume ([2.76 ± 0.67] vs [3.36 ± 0.93] ml, P <0.05), sperm concentration ([11.47 ± 1.10] vs [17.77 ± 3.56] ×10⁶/ml, P <0.05), percentage of PMS ([19.22 ± 1.41] vs [36.01 ± 5.22] %, P <0.05), MDA level ([14.66 ± 2.75] vs [10.14 ± 1.01] nmol/ml, P <0.05), and TAC in the seminal plasma ([9.84 ± 0.90] vs [11.14 ± 0.84] U/ml, P <0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the above post-medication parameters between the trial and control groups (P >0.05) except in TAC, which was markedly more improved in the former than in the latter (P <0.05), nor in the percentage of morphologically normal sperm before and after treatment in either of the two groups (P >0.05). After 3 months of treatment, 3 pregnancies were achieved in the trial group and 1 in the control (10.7% vs 3.45%, P >0.05). No obvious adverse events occurred during the treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Alpha-lipoic acid combined with tamoxifen citrate can evidently improve semen parameters in oligoasthenospermia patients by relieving oxidative stress injury.
Antioxidants
;
Asthenozoospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Biomarkers
;
analysis
;
Carnitine
;
therapeutic use
;
Drug Therapy, Combination
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Oligospermia
;
drug therapy
;
Oxidative Stress
;
Pregnancy
;
Pregnancy Rate
;
Semen Analysis
;
Sperm Count
;
Sperm Motility
;
Spermatozoa
;
drug effects
;
Tamoxifen
;
therapeutic use
;
Thioctic Acid
;
therapeutic use
9.Protective effect of Qilin Pills on the reproductive function of oligoasthenospermia rats.
Kai-Shu ZHANG ; Fang ZHOU ; Qi AN ; Yan-Fei JIA ; Long-Long FU ; Wen-Hong LU ; Xiao-Wei LIANG ; Xue-Jun SHANG ; Yi-Qun GU
National Journal of Andrology 2017;23(9):821-827
Objective:
To study the protective effect of Qilin Pills (QLP) on the reproductive function of rats with oligoasthenospermia (OAS) induced by tripterygium glycosides.
METHODS:
Twenty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control, an OAS model control, a low-dose QLP, and a high-dose QLP group of equal number. OAS models were made in the latter three groups by intragastrical administration of tripterygium glycosides at 40 mg per kg of the body weight per day, and meanwhile the animals in the low- and high-dose QLP groups were treated with QLP at 1.62 and 3.24 g per kg of the body weight per day, respectively, while those in the OAS model group with normal saline, all for 30 consecutive days. Then all the rats were executed for obtaining the testis weight, testis viscera index, epididymal sperm concentration and motility, reproductive hormone levels, and antioxidation indexes and observation of the histomorphological changes of the testis tissue by HE staining.
RESULTS:
After 30 days of intervention, the low- and high-dose QLP groups, as compared with the OAS model controls, showed significantly improved epididymal sperm concentration ([14.57 ± 3.95] and [39.71 ± 11.31] vs [4.71 ± 1.25] ×10⁶/ml, P <0.05) and motility ([3.71 ± 1.11] and [4.29 ± 1.80] vs [0.57 ± 0.53]%, P <0.05), increased levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) ([94.83 ± 11.17] and [88.05 ± 9.21] vs [56.74 ± 8.29] nmol/L, P <0.05) and free testosterone (FT) ([27.27 ± 3.63] and [32.80 ± 2.51] vs [22.81 ± 2.75] nmol/L, P <0.05), decreased level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ([1.49 ± 0.62] and [1.12 ± 0.83] vs [1.71 ± 0.52] mIU/ml, P <0.05), but no significant change in the total testosterone (TT) level. Meanwhile, the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was markedly elevated in the low- and high-dose QLP groups in comparison with the OAS model control group ([277.14 ± 15.84] and [299.60 ± 20.83] vs [250.04 ± 31.06] U/ml, P <0.05) while that of reactive oxygen species (ROS) remarkably reduced ([397.61 ± 62.71] and [376.84 ± 67.14] vs [552.20 ± 58.07] IU/ml, P <0.05). HE staining showed that QLP intervention significantly increased the layers and quantity of spermatogenic cells in the testicular seminiferous tubules of the OAS rats.
CONCLUSIONS
QLP can effectively protect the reproductive system of oligoasthenospermia rats by raising sperm quality, elevating reproductive hormone levels, reducing oxidative stress injury, and improving histomorphology of the testis.
Animals
;
Asthenozoospermia
;
chemically induced
;
drug therapy
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
pharmacology
;
Epididymis
;
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
;
Male
;
Oligospermia
;
chemically induced
;
drug therapy
;
Protective Agents
;
pharmacology
;
Random Allocation
;
Rats
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Reproduction
;
drug effects
;
Seminiferous Tubules
;
Sperm Count
;
Spermatozoa
;
drug effects
;
Superoxide Dismutase
;
analysis
;
Testis
;
Testosterone
;
blood
;
Tripterygium
10.Antioxidating and energy metabolism improving effects of Qiangjing Decoction on oligospermia and asthenospermia: An experimental study.
Qian-li TANG ; Qing-hu HE ; Bo DAI ; Zhao-sheng LIU ; Zhou QING ; Xin HUANG ; Quan-sheng WANG ; Bin BIN
National Journal of Andrology 2016;22(2):153-159
OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of Qianjing Decoction in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia (OAS).
METHODSWe randomly divided 100 SPF male rats into five groups of equal number: normal, model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing. OAS models were established in the animals followed by intragastrical administration of normal saline, ornidazole, Huangjingzanyu Capsules (200 mg per kg body weight per day), levocarnitine (100 mg per kg body weight per day), and Qianjing Decoction (10 g per kg body weight per day), respectively, qd, for 4 successive weeks. Then, we detected the concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm, obtained the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-glucosidase, and fructose in the epididymis, and determined the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the epididymal tissue of the rats by real-time PCR.
RESULTSThe concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm in the model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qianging groups were (35.34 ± 4.22) x 10(6)/ml and (40.04 ± 7.05)%, (48.12 ± 5.56) x 10(6)/ml and (62.46 ± 7.12)%, (47.14 ± 4.87) x 10(6)/ml and (63.23 ± 6.34)%, and (50.25 ± 5.08) x 10(6)/ml and (66.34 ± 7.58)%, respectively, all significantly lower than in the normal group ([53.05 ± 4.55] x 10(6)/ml and [70.20 ± 8.54]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups than in the model rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the thinned epididymal lumen walls, decreased sperm count, and disorderly and loose arrangement of the lumens in the OAS models, the rats in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups showed evidently thicker epididymal lumen walls, with the lumens full of sperm cells and arranged regularly and compactly, similar to those of the normal rats. The levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower but that of MDA markedly higher in the model rats ([84.12 ± 23.25], [10.56 ± 3.02], and [14.04 ± 2.06] nmol/mg) than in the normal group ([110.04 ± 19.56], [17.25 ± 3.56], and [8.87 ± 1.35] nmol/mg) (P < 0.05), while the former two indexes remarkably higher and the latter one significantly lower in the animals treated with Qiangjing Decoction ([120.56 ± 23.68], [16.34 ± 3.12], and [8.45 ± 1.56] nmol/mg), Huangjingzanyu Capsules ([115.34 ± 21.35], [15.23 ± 3.67], and [8.33 ± 1.54] nmol/mg), and levocarnitine ([116.67 ± 22.67], [15.35 ± 3.45], and [8.05 ± 1.78] nmol/mg) than in the models (P < 0.05). The levels of fructose, LDH and α-glucosidase were decreased markedly in the OAS models ([100.22 ± 12.12] mg/[ ml x g], [322 ± 46.13] U/[ ml x g], and [10.48 ± 2.33] U/[ml x g]) as compared with the normal rats ([128.12 ± 13.45] mg/[ml x g], [428 ± 35.12] U/[ml x g], and [15.34 ± 3.12] U/[ ml x g]) (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the rats treated with Qiangjing ([130.23 ± 13.67] mg/[ml x g] [455 ± 51.50] U/[ml x g], and [18.56 ± 4.67] U/[ml x g]), Huangjingzanyu ([124.16 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [ 419 ± 43.14] U/[ml x g], and [17.64 ± 4.08] U/[ml x g]), and levocarnitine ([123.34 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [430 ± 31.80] U/ [ml x g], and [16.85 ± 5.55] U/[ml x g]) than in the models (P < 0.05). The Nrf2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the models as compared with the normal rats (P < 0.05) but remarkably increased in the Huangingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05). The SDH mRNA expression was significantly lower in the model than in the normal rats (P < 0.05) but markedly elevated in the Huangjingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the Qiangjing than in the Huangjingzanyu group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONOrnidazole induces OAS in rats, which is closely associated with excessive oxidation and energy metabolism dysfunction. Qiangjing Decoction can improve and even reverse ornidazole-induced OAS in rats as well as improve the ultrastructure of their testicular and epididymal tissues. Antioxidation and improvement of energy metabolism are probably the action mechanisms of Qiangjing Decoction in the treatment of OAS.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ornidazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism
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