ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The effects of Jing'an capsule on the quality of rat sperm were studied to supply data for its safe clinical use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty SD male rats were evenly and randomly divided into three test groups and one control group. Then the test groups were continuously given Jing'an capsule at different dosages: 557.1 mg/kg, 5,571 mg/kg or 11,420 mg/kg and the control group was given starch (20 g/L). Sixty days later, one of the epididymides, the sperm density was made and the sperm motility and morphology were investigated. The data obtained were analyzed by ANOVA, chi 2 test and Kruskal-Wallis test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sperm density, motility and morphology were variable at different dosages. Compared with the control, the sperm density increased significantly at the dosage of 557.1 mg/kg(P < 0.05), and a significant decrease was observed in the sperm density and motility (P < 0.05) at the dosage of 11,420 mg/kg. Although the rate of abnormal sperm morphology decreased at the dosage of 557.1 mg/kg and increased at the dosage of 5,571 mg/kg or 11,420 mg/kg compared with the control, there was no statistic significance(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A low dosage of Jing'an capsule might ameliorate the quality of sperm, while a high dosage could do damage to sperm.</p>