The aim of this paper was to observe the toxic effect of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets on the reproductive system of Ⅱ type collagen induced arthritis(CIA) male rats, and to explore the toxic mechanism preliminarily. Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(Con), model group(CIA), Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets clinical equivalent dose groups of 1, 2, 4 times(9, 18, 36 mg·kg~(-1)), 10 rats in each group, and were given by gavage once a day for 42 days after the first immunization. The organ index of testis and epididymis were calculated on days 21 and 42. Histopathological and morphological changes of testis and epididymis were observed under optical microscope. Sperm count, sperm malformation rate and sperm kinetic parameters in epididymal tissues were observed by computer assisted sperm analysis(CASA). The concentration of testosterone(T), nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and aromatase(CYP19 A1) in serum were detected by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 related proteins in the apoptosis pathway of testis and epididymis. The results showed that, compared with Con group, CIA group significantly increased the rate of testicular spermatogenic tubule lesion and sperm malformation, decreased the average path speed, and no significant changes were observed in other groups. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets at 4 times clinical equivalent dose can significantly reduce the testis index(P<0.01), each dose group can reduce the epididymis index(P<0.05). Each dose group of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets could cause different degrees of damage to the testis and epididymis, the proportion of testicular histopathology lesions increased, the number of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules decreased, and so on. It could reduce the number of sperm, increase the rate of sperm deformity, make the parameters of sperm dynamics abnormal, and so on. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets at 4 times dose could significantly reduce the content of serum sex hormone T and key enzyme of androgen synthesis(P<0.05 or P<0.01), but had no effect on CYP19 A1. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in testis and epididymis were increased by 2 and 4 times doses of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets(P<0.05, P<0.01 or P<0.01). The results showed that 21 d administration of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets at equal or higher doses could induce obvious toxic effect to the reproductive organs of CIA male rats, and lower the level of serum sex hormone T and the key enzyme of androgen synthesis, NOS. The mechanism of abnormal changes of Bax and Bcl-2 in Testis and epididymis is still to be elucidated.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/toxicity* ; Genitalia, Male/drug effects* ; Glycosides/toxicity* ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa/pathology* ; Tablets ; Testis/pathology* ; Tripterygium/chemistry*

The aim of this work was to study effects of ketotifen fumarate (KF) on prevention of tissue damage in testes of rats with experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) and on the contralateral testis in a model of prolonged testicular cord torsion (TCT). Rats with EAO or TCT were injected intraperitoneally once daily with KF or saline solution (vehicle group). Incidence and severity of testicular damage were evaluated by histopathology using an EAO score or a Johnsen score. Mast cells (MC) were identified by histochemistry and quantified. In EAO model, KF significantly reduced severity of histopathological testicular damage compared to rats in the vehicle group. KF also reduced the number of testicular MC compared to vehicle group. Similarly, in TCT model, multifocal damage of the contralateral testis was observed 30 days after testicular torsion characterized by sloughing of the germinal epithelium, seminiferous tubule atrophy, and interstitial edema. Focal signs of inflammation and fibrosis of seminiferous tubular walls were also observed. In contrast, sections of contralateral testis of rats injected with KF and killed 30 days after surgery showed normal histological features. A significant decrease in the number of MC was observed in rats treated with KF compared to untreated animals. In conclusion, we demonstrated that treatment with KF reduced testicular inflammatory process and MC infiltrates in both EAO and TCT models. The results suggest a promising treatment for infertile male patients with testicular pathologies associated with inflammation and germ cell loss.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases/pathology* ; Cell Count ; Epididymis/pathology* ; Epididymitis/pathology* ; Histamine H1 Antagonists/pharmacology* ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immunity, Cellular/drug effects* ; Ketotifen/pharmacology* ; Male ; Mast Cells/pathology* ; Orchitis/pathology* ; Rats ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spermatic Cord Torsion/pathology* ; Testis/pathology* ; Vaccination

This paper summarizes the research progress of reproductive toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii from 1979,and the toxicity characterization,damage mechanism,and attenuated measures are summarized. It was found that,the reproductive toxicity caused by T. wilfordii is mainly distributed on components of Tripterygium glycosides,triptolide,tripchlorolide,and clinically preparations,such as Leigongteng Tablets and Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets. Adverse reactions to male reproductive system caused by Tripterygium preparations mainly include decreased sperm motility,oligospermia or spermatozoa,decreased fertility or infertility,etc. Long-term drug use may also lead to testicular atrophy and decreased sexual desire. Adverse reactions to women are mainly manifested as menstrual disorders,decreased menstrual volume or even amenorrhea,decreased sexual desire,infertility,etc. The reproductive toxicity of T. wilfordii is related to apoptosis of reproductive cells,disturbance of spermatogenesis or oogenesis,damage of testis and ovary in reproductive target tissues,and changes of internal environment in gonad tissues( hormones,hormone synthesis rate-limiting enzymes and energy metabolism). Drug compatibility,hormone replacement,medication duration and dosage form changes can help reduce the damage of T. wilfordii to the reproductive system. In addition,in view of the existing problems in the current study,the author proposes new directions in clinical studies,pharmacological metabolism mechanism,preparation quality standards and new therapeutic effects,etc.,to provide a basis for the safe and reasonable clinical application of T. wilfordii.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Female ; Genitalia ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; Tripterygium ; toxicity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intervention of curcumin and its analogue J7 on oxidative stress injury in testis of type 2 diabetic rats. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats, 10 rats were chosen as normal control group (NC), the other 50 rats were assigned to experiment group. Experiment diabetic rats were induced by high-fat food and intraperitoneal injection of steptozotocin (STZ). After the model was established successfully, diabetic rats were divided into four groups randomly: diabetes mellitus group (DM, n=12), curcumin treatment group (CUR, n=10), high dose treatment group of J7 (J+, n=10), low dose treatment group of J7 (J-, n=10). The CUR group were intragastrically administered with curcumin 20 mg/kg daily, in addition, the J+ group and the J- group were intragastrically administered with J7 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg daily respectively. After 8 weeks, the fast blood glucose was detected biochemically. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by hydroxylamine method and thiobarbituric acid method respectively. The protein expressions of the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (tNrf2), phosphorylation of Nrf2 (pNrf2), catalase (CAT), NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) were measured by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of CAT, NQO1, hemeoxygenase-1 (HO1) were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Morphological structure of testis was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expressions of Nrf2 and CAT were also detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The levels of fast blood glucose and MDA in DM group were increased significantly(P＜0.05), while the body weight, the activity of SOD, the protein expressions of pNrf2/tNrf2, CAT, NQO1 and the mRNA expressions of CAT, NQO1, HO1 were decreased (P＜0.05). Under light microscope, the DM group showed disrupted histological appearance. Immunohistochemistry showed that the protein expressions of Nrf2 around the nucleus and CAT were decreased. With the treatment of curcumin and J7, the MDA levels in the three treatment groups were decreased (P＜0.05). The activity of SOD, the protein expressions of pNrf2/tNrf2, CAT, NQO1 and the mRNA expressions of NQO1, HO1 were increased (P＜0.05). the levels of fast blood glucose were decreased in the J+ and J- group (P＜0.05), and the mRNA expression of CAT was increased in the J+ group (P＜0.05). The ratio of pNrf2/tNrf2 in the J+ group was significantly higher than that in CUR and J- group (P＜0.05). The protein level of CAT in the J+ group was also significantly higher than that in J- group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in other indexes among the three treatment groups. Under light microscope, the morphology was obviously improved in the three treatment groups. Immunohistochemistry showed that the protein expressions of Nrf2 around the nucleus and CAT were increased in the three treatment groups. It was suggested that high dose J7 had better antioxidant stress ability in testis of diabetic rats. CONCLUSION Curcumin and J7 could inhibit the oxidative stress damage of testicular tissue in diabetic rats, which might be related with the activation of the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Curcumin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a modified Wuzi Yanzong Pill (, WZYZP) on the male rats' testis after microwave radiation, as well as its potential mechanism. METHODS: Forty-five male rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the control group, the radiation group, and the WZYZP group. The rats in the radiation group and WZYZP group were exposed to microwave radiation for 15 min once, while the rats in the control group were not exposed to any radiation. The rats in the WZYZP group were given a modified of WZYZP by gavage daily for 7 days. Apoptosis in the testis was evaluated using terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Histopathological alterations of the testis were observed by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Tat-interactive protein, 60kD (Tip60) and p53 expressions were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS: The apoptosis index (AI) in the radiation group was higher than that of the WZYZP group and control group on day 1 (D1), day 7 (D7) day 14 (D14) after radiation (P<0.05). The seminiferous tubules were of normal morphology in the control group. In the radiation group, the partial seminiferous tubules were collapsed, basement membranes of the seminiferous epithelia became detached. WZYZP could restore the morphological changes. There was no expression of Tip60 among the three groups on D7 and D14. The expression of p53 was higher in the radiation group than in the control group (P<0.05). WZYZP could down-regulate the rising p53 induced by radiation on D7 and D14 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION A modified WZYZP may affect germ cells, and its protective effects may partly result from its ability to intervene in Tip60 mediated apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microwaves ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

High-fat diets affect male reproduction and sexual function. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of prolonged resveratrol administration on the metabolic, sperm, and testicular parameters of rats fed a cafeteria diet. Male Wistar rats were divided at weaning into control (C, n = 20) and cafeteria (CAF, n = 16) groups. At 3 months, half of them were given daily supplementations of resveratrol (C-R, n = 10; CAF-R, n = 8) at a dosage of 30 mg kg^-1 body mass for 2 months. Animals were killed at 5 months of age, and blood, spermatozoa, and testes were collected for further analysis. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The CAF diet promoted hyperglycemia (P < 0.0001), and treatment with resveratrol reversed this condition (P < 0.0001). The CAF diet reduced sperm viability and motility, while resveratrol improved these parameters (P < 0.05). Regarding testicular morphology, the height of the seminiferous epithelium was reduced in the CAF group compared with that of the C group (P = 0.0007). Spermatogenic cell proliferation was also reduced in the CAF group compared with that of the C group. However, the CAF-R showed an increase in cell proliferation rate compared with that of the untreated CAF group (P = 0.0024). Although it did not modify body mass, the consumption of a CAF diet promoted hyperglycemia, adverse testicular morphology remodeling, and abnormal sperm, which were attenuated by treatment with resveratrol, thus suggesting a protective effect of this antioxidant on spermatogenesis.
Animals ; Antioxidants/therapeutic use* ; Blood Glucose ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Diet, High-Fat ; Hyperglycemia/metabolism* ; Lipids/blood* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Resveratrol/therapeutic use* ; Sperm Motility/drug effects* ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; Testis/metabolism*

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

ObjectiveTo explore the antagonistic effect of vitamin E (VE) on male reproductive toxicity induced by di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in pubertal SD rats and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThirty 5-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number, corn oil control, low-dose (10 mg/kg/d), medium-dose (100 mg/kg/d) and high-dose DEHP exposure (500 mg/kg/d), and VE intervention (high-dose DEHP + VE ［100 mg/kg/d］), and treated respectively for 30 successive days. At 3 days after treatment, the testes of the animals were harvested for determination of the oxidative stress index, serum reproductive hormone levels, cauda epididymal sperm parameters, and expressions of cell apoptosis-related genes and proteins.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats of the medium- and high-dose DEHP groups showed significant decreases in the levels of such serum reproductive hormones as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T), sperm parameters as average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness (STR), linearity (LIN) and wobble (WOB), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px), but significant increases were observed in the latter two groups in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA)(［3.32±0.87］ nmol/mg pro vs ［2.13±0.49］ nmol/ mg pro), mRNA expressions of Bad, Bax, Cytochrome C, Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and protein expressions of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3. In comparison with the high-dose DEHP group, the VE intervention group exhibited remarkably increased serum LH and T levels, sperm VAP, VSL, VCL, STR and WOB, and activities of SOD and GSH-Px, but markedly decreased mRNA expressions of Bad, Bax, Cytochrome C, Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the protein expressions of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3 in the testis tissue (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExposure to DEHP induces androgen secretion disorders, causes oxidative damage to the testicular tissue, activates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in the testis, and ultimately reduces the quality of epididymal sperm, while VE can protect the rat testis from DEHP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Autophagy-Related Protein 5 ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Epididymis ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on sperm quality and the MAPK signaling pathway in the SD rat model of asthenospermia (AS).

METHODSA total of 100 male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number, blank control, AS model control, high-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and low-dose QJT. All the rats were intragastrically administered ORN at 200 mg/kg/d for establishment of the AS model except those in the blank control group, which were given 1% CMC sodium solution at 1 ml/100 g by gavage. Meanwhile the animals of the high-, medium-, and low-dose QJT groups were gavaged with QJT at 6700, 3300 and 1700 mg/kg/d, respectively, qd 6 days a week for 20 days. Then the testis issue and the apoptosis of the testicular cells were observed under the electron microscope, the expression of vimentin in the testis was determined with the immunohistochemical SP method, that of ERK1/2 detected by Western blot, and the concentration of TGF-β1 in the semen measured by ELISA.

RESULTSThe AS model controls showed round nuclei of spermatocytes, homogeneously distributed chromatins, broken or lost mitochondria, and expanded rough endoplasmic reticulum in the testis tissue. In comparison, the rats of the high-, medium-, and low-dose QJT groups exhibited round nuclei of spermatocytes, homogeneously distributed chromatins, and well-structured mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosome, which were all similar those of the blank controls. Compared with the blank controls, the AS model rats manifested significantly increased expressions of ERK1/2 (1.00 ± 0.00 vs 1.26 ± 0.10, P<0.01) and vimentin (0.16 ± 0.01 vs 0.17 ± 0.01, P<0.01) and apoptosis rate of cells in the testis tissue (［9.20 ± 3.07］ vs ［42.20 ± 9.17］ %, P<0.01), but decreased level of TGF-β1 in the semen (［627.67 ± 26.07］ vs ［566.73 ± 68.44］ ng/ml, P<0.05). In comparison with the model controls, the rats of the high- and medium- -dose QJT groups presented remarkably down-regulated expressions of ERK1/2 (1.26 ± 0.10 vs 1.14 ± 0.08, P<0.01; 1.26 ± 0.10 vs 1.18 ± 0.05, P<0.05) and vimentin (0.17 ± 0.01 vs 0.16 ± 0.01, P<0.01; 0.17 ± 0.01 vs 0.17 ± 0.09, P<0.05) and decreased rate of cell apoptosis (［42.20 ± 9.17］ vs ［21.60 ± 5.94］ %, P<0.01; ［42.20 ± 9.17］ vs ［33.95 ± 6.39］ %, P<0.05). The concentration of TGF-β1 in the semen was markedly lower in the high-dose QJT than in the AS model control group (［621.78 ± 30.80］ vs ［566.73 ± 68.44］ ng/ml, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQiangjing Tablets could improve semen quality in asthenospermia rats by acting against oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Asthenozoospermia ; enzymology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

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