Long-term toxicity of Shen Yan Ling tablet and its effect on male reproductive function in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Shen Yan Ling Tablet is an innovative compound of traditional Chinese medicine, scientifically prepared with Tripterygium wilfordii, Radix Astragali, and others, with precise efficacy on renal diseases and reduced adverse effects of Tripterygium wilfordii. Based on the Guiding Principles for New Drug Toxicity Research Before Clinical Application, we investigated the long-term toxicity of Shen Yan Ling Tablet and its effect on the reproductive function in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the clinical therapeutic dose and the results of the acute toxicity test of Shen Yan Ling Tablet, we equally divided 80 rats (males and females half-and-half) into a low-dose (1.25 g/kg body wt), a medium-dose (2.50 g/kg body wt), a high-dose (5.00 g/kg body wt) and a control group. After a 3-month medication, we conducted standardized long-term toxicity tests and observed the effects of Shen Yan Ling on the serum sexual hormones and epididymal sperm count.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 3 months of treatment with Shen Yan Ling, no death occurred, the general status remained unchanged, and the parameters of blood cytology and biochemistry fluctuated within the normal range, without any significant changes (P > 0.05). Some blood parameters, RBC, WBC, HGB, AST and TBIL, showed statistic changes (P < 0.05), but with no clinical significance. There were no significant differences in the mass coefficients of the main organs between the medication and control groups. The high-dose group exhibited slight hepatic and pulmonary pathological changes and significantly reduced sperm counts in the epididymis, but no significant changes in serum sexual hormones (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Three-month medication of Shen Yan Ling at 1.25 - 5.00 g/kg produced no significant accumulated toxicity on rats, but it had a negative effect on their reproductive function at a higher dose of > or = 5.00 g/kg.</p>

Effect of selective 5alpha-reductase inhibitor or/and testosterone undecanoate on the reproductive function of male rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether 5alpha-reductase inhibitor and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) play a role in spermatogenesis in male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two male rats were divided into 4 groups (Groups C, T, F and FT). Group C received plant oil injection and oral starch perfusion, Group T testosterone undecanoate (TU, 20 mg/kg) injection and oral starch perfusion, Group F plant oil injection and oral Finasteride perfusion, and Group FT TU (20 mg/kg) injection and oral Finasteride perfusion. Data on serum T and DHT, sperm count, sperm mobility and reproductive function were collected and analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, Finasteride and TU reduced the weight of the testis and epididymis in the experiment groups compared with the negative control (Group C), but TU increased the weight of the prostate while Finasteride decreased it compared with the positive control (Group T). TU combined with Finasteride could counteract the effect of the weight increase of the prostate, but not that of the testis. (2) Finasteride, or Finasteride combined with TU, reduced the DHT but increased the testosterone level in comparison with the control group. (3) Both Finasteride and TU could inhibit epididymal sperm count and reproductive function compared with the control, but the effect was less significant in Group FT than in Group F.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High dosages of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, Finasteride, can suppress male reproductive function, but the inhibiting effect could be counteracted by administration of 5alpha-reductase inhibitor along with TU.</p>

Effect of large-dosage of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on the spermatogenesis of male rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the role of 5alpha-reductase in the spermatogenesis of male rats by studying the effect of two 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, Epristeride and Finasteride, on the spermatogenesis in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Changes in the weight of the testis, serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels, epididymal sperm count, and reproductive function were observed and analyzed after the two 5alpha-reductase inhibitors were administered to male SD rats orally.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The experiment showed that in comparison with control animals, both the two 5alpha-reductase inhibitors: 1. suppressed the development of the prostate and reduced the weight of the testis in the experimental groups (P < 0.05); 2. decreased the serum level of dihydrotestosterone and enhanced testosterone; 3. inhibited epididymal sperm count and productive function.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High dosages of the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, Epristeride, can suppress the development of the prostate and reduce the weight of the testis, decrease dihydrotestosterone, and inhibit spermatogenesis and productive function in male rats.</p>

Experimental research on spontaneous benign prostatic hyperplasia in old dogs / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the pathoanatomize histological and biochemical characteristics of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by use of old dogs with spontaneous BPH as animal models.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Old dogs aged 6 to 13 years were recruited after anus check, B-ultrasonic examination by recta spy and measurement under surgical exploration. Ten dogs with notable prostatic hyperplasia were used as models, and 6 with non-hyperplasia prostate as control. Serum testosterone (T), estrogen (E2), ACP and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were analyzed, and prostates were checked histologically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Prostate volume of the BPH group was significantly bigger than those of the control group, (14.7 +/- 2.3) and (13.8 +/- 1.9) cm3 vs (8.4 +/- 1.0) and (8.4 +/- 1.9) cm3, P < 0.01. Serum T [(14.3 +/- 2.9) vs (16.4 +/- 4.0) nmol/L] and E2 [(137.6 +/- 70.8) vs (164.4 +/- 82.0) pmol/L] were not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). ACP of the BPH group was higher than that of the control group [(6.63 +/- 2.76) vs (4.92 +/- 2.19) U/L], but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was significant difference between the BPH group and the control group in PSA level [(5.6 +/- 0.78) vs (3.1 +/- 0.54) microgram/L, P < 0.01]. The tissue slides of the BPH prostates showed hyperplasia with raised height of epithelium, and many long and offsetting mammillae in the gland cavity due to epithelium hyperplasia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Old dogs with spontaneous BPH are useful animal models for the etiological and pharmacological researches of human BPH.</p>

Effect of MPA and MPA + TU on the rat spermatogenesis and sexual hormones / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the effect of administration of MPA with/without TU on serum sexual hormones and spermatogenesis of male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty rats had been classified into four groups. Each group received injection of saline(group A) or MPA(37.5 or 75 mg/kg) (group B or group C, respectively) or MPA (75 mg/kg) + TU (25 mg/kg) (group D) every month during three months. Data from serum sexual hormones (FSH, LH, T), sperm counting and motility had been collected and analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Spermatogenesis of rats undergoing administration of MPA with or without TU had been suppressed. Serum FSH and LH of group B, C, D declined, and so did serum T of group D. Testis of rats of group D atrophied and sperm counting of group D decreased remarkably compared with group B and C. But there was no statistics difference of the sexual hormone level among group B, C and D.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Administration of MPA alone could suppress the levels of FSH and LH and block the spermatogenesis of male rats. MPA combined with TU could offer stronger suppression on spermatogenesis. Mechanism of the suppression on spermatogenesis of MPA + TU is not only limited in the feed-back of gonadotropin, but there maybe exist a direct suppression on testis.</p>