Study on Improvement Effects and Mechanism of Astragalus complanatus Total Flavonoids on Reproductive Dysfunction Model Male Rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To stu dy the improvement effects of Astragalus complanatus total flavonoids （TFA） on adenine-induced reproductive dysfunction model male rats and its mechanism. METHODS ：Male SD rats were divided into blank group，model group ，positive group （Wuzhi yanzong pill ，2 g/kg），TFA high-dose，medium-dose and low-dose groups （0.05， 0.1，0.2 g/kg），with 12 rats in each group. Male rats in each group were given the corresponding drugs intragastrically at 9：00 a.m. every day ，while the model of reproductive dysfunction was reproduced by intragastric administration of adenine suspension （except for blank group ）at 3：00 p.m. on the same day ，for consecutive 35 days. After medication ，male rats in each group were mated with female rats by ratio of 1∶1 in cages ；7 days later ，inducing-pregnancy rate of male rats were measured. ELISA assay was used to detect the serum levels of T ，E2，FSH，LH，GSH-Px，SOD，MDA，Scr and BUN in male rats ；the testis ， epididymis，seminal vesicle ，thymus and kidney of male rats were extracted and the organ index was calculated ；HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of testis ，epididymis and kidney ；the protein expression of Bcl- 2，Bax，Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in the renal tissue of male rats were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS ：Compared with blank group ，the inducing-pregnancy rate of male rats ，the testis ，epididymis，seminal vesicle gland ，thymus indexes ，the serum levels of T ，E2， SOD and GSH-Px ，the protein expression levels of Bcl- 2 in renal tissue were reduced significantly in model group （P＜0.01）；the renal index ，the serum levels of FSH ，LH，MDA，Scr and BUN ，the protein expression levels of Bax ，Caspase-3 and Caspase- 9 in renal tissue were increased significantly （P＜0.01）；the diameter of seminiferous tubules in testis became thinner ，the spacing was wider ，and the arrangement of seminiferous cells was disordered ；the wall of epididymis was thickened ，the arrangement was loose，the stroma was enlarged ，the lumen was proliferated and atrophied ，and the sperm in the lumen wass aggregated ；in renal tissue，interstitial fibers was proliferated ，and a large number of yellow crystals were seen in renal tubules. Compared with model group，the inducing-pregnancy rate，the testis ，epididymis，seminal vesicle gland ，thymus indexes ，the serum levels of T ，E2， SOD and GSH-Px ，the protein expression levels of Bcl- 2 in renal tissue of male rats were increased significantly in the positive group，TFA medium-dose and high-dose groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01），while the renal index ，the serum levels of FSH ，LH， MDA，Scr and BUN ，the protein expression levels of Bax ，Caspase-3 and Caspase- 9 in renal tissue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；there was the same chage trend and most with significant difference in above indexes of TFA low-dose group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）；the pathalogic changes of testis ，epididymis and renal tissue were improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS：TFA can significantly improve adenine-induced reproductive dysfunction model male rats. The mechanism may be associated with reducing hormone FSH and LH level ，the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in renal tissue ，while increasing the level of hormone T and E 2 and improving oxidant stress level.

Protective mechanism of saponins of Panax Japonicus on high-fat diet induced reproductive dysfunction in mice / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effects of saponins of Panax japonicus (SPJ) on high-fat diet induced reproductive dysfunction in mice and its underlying mechanisms. Methods Sperm viability and sperm count were assessed using hemocytometer and eosin Y staining under light microscope. Testicular morphology was evaluated by HE staining. Germ cell apoptosis was detected by deoxyribonucleotide terminal transferasemediated (TUNEL). The relative protein expression levels of p-NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by Western blot. The numbers of testicular macrophages were assessed by immunofluorescence. Results Compared with high-fat model group, SPJ significantly reduced the body mass of mice, significantly increased the weight and index of testis and epididymis, elevated sperm viability and sperm count, improved the morphology of seminiferous tubules, and reduced germ cell the apoptosis. In addition, SPJ markedly decreased the relative protein expression levels of p-NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β, and reduced the numbers of testicular macrophages. Conclusions SPJ significantly improves high-fat diet induced reproductive dysfunction in male mice, and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of macrophage infiltration and inhibition of NF-ΚB pathway-mediated testicular inflammation.

Spermatotoxic effects of alpha-chlorohydrin in rats / 한국실험동물학회지

This study was conducted to investigate the potential effects of alpha-chlorohydrin (ACH) on epididymal function and antioxidant system in male rats. The test chemical was administered to male rats by gavage at doses of 0, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Twenty-four male rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, with six rats in each group. Spermatotoxicity was assessed by measurement of reproductive organ weight, testicular sperm head count, epididymal sperm motility and morphology, histopathologic examination, and oxidative damage analysis in rats. At 30 mg/kg/day, an increase in the incidence of clinical signs, epididymis weight, and gross necropsy findings of the epididymis, a decrease in the sperm motility, and an increased incidence of histopathological changes of the epididymis were observed in a dose-dependent manner. At 10 mg/kg/day, an increased incidence of clinical signs and histopathological changes and decreased sperm motility were observed. In the oxidative damage analysis, an increase in the malondialdehyde concentration and a decrease in the glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in the epididymal tissue were detected at > or =3 mg/kg/day. The results show that graded doses of ACH elicit depletion of the antioxidant defense system and that the spermatotoxicity of ACH may be due to the induction of oxidative stress.

Endocrine Disruptors

For the previous century, the humans have created an unintended and unwanted problem of endocrine disruptors as a potential threat to our public health. By the name of industrialization, endocrine disruptors are smuggling in the everyday life of people today. Although there are much debate on the reality of their emerging health threat, it is no doubt that there are certain classes of compounds that have the potential to affect hormonal status adversely, leading to abnormal development, reproductive dysfunction, and some cancers. The classes of endocrine disruptors are extensively diverse and even more increasing, such as, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, dieldrin, bisphenol A and toxaphene. Although these endocrine disruptors have been prohibited or tightly regulated, many of them are still unrecognized and still used without knowing their potential threat to the biological world. Once they are released into the environment, they usually persist without degradation and even undergo bioaccumulation and bioconcentration in food chain. Comparing with the great concern over the public health, we do not have enough information for these issues. It is now clear that we need further extensive studies for the risk assessment and the protection of human and ecological health from the potential hazards of endocrine disruptors. This article introduces a breif overview of the current status of our knowledge and research on endocrine disruptors.

Cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with reproductive dysfunction / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chromosome abnormalities and male or female reproductive dysfunction and to be convinced of the role of pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 (inv (9)) on human phenotypes. METHODS: Between Jan. 1995 and Dec. 2003, results of 1713 chromosomal analyses which were referred to our cytogenetic laboratory were analyzed. Study groups consisted of 658 cases of men and 18 cases of women with unexplained infertility, 65 cases of men and 109 cases of women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion, 78 cases of women with primary amenorrhea, 61 cases of women with secondary amenorrhea and, 382 cases of men and 342 cases of women with no reproductive dysfunction (control group). The incidence of inv (9) among each group was compared with control group. RESULTS: Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 110 cases (16.7%), 2 cases (11.1%), 3 cases (4.6%), 15 cases (13.8%), 29 cases (37.2%) and 10 cases (16.4%) in each group. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in male infertility was higher than previous reports, and 10 cases of inv (9) were detected in male infertility group. In cases of women with infertility and secondary amenorrhea, we couldn't find the relevance between reproductive dysfunction and chromosomal abnormality. In cases of women with recurrent spontaneous abortion, 6 cases (5.5%) had autosomal translocation and 7 cases (6.42%) had inv (9). In cases with primary amenorrhea, most chromosomal abnormalities found were related to sex chromosome such as Turner's syndrome, similar to other investigations. Thirty three cases of inv (9) was detected among the whole 1713 chromosomal analyses (1.93%). In cases of male infertility, 10 cases (1.52%) had inv (9), not significantly different with male control group. But 7 cases (6.42%) of inv (9) in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion were significantly higher than female control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Because considerable proportion of patients with reproductive dysfunction had various cytogenetic abnormalities, the chromosomal analysis should be considered as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of reproductive dysfunction such as infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortion, and amenorrhea. We also found that Inv (9) had a significantly increased incidence in female recurrent spontaneous abortion.

ZHU Dan-xi’s discussion on obese female reproductive dysfunction from phlegm-dampness constitution / 中华中医药杂志

Phlegm is an important etiopathogenisis of female reproductive dysfunction in TCM.ZHU Dan-xi put forward the famous constitution theory of "phlegm in fat people",and there was internal regularity in pathogenesis of wemen with phlegm-dampness constitution.His viewpoint guided the clinical treatment objectively and provided a solid theorectical basis of preventing and treating female reproductive dysfunction induced by phlegm-dapness.Therefore,this paper will discuss the relationship between phlegm-dampness constitution and female reproductive dysfunction from the characteristics of pglegm-dampness constitute,correlation of obesity and pglegm-dampness constitute,and so on.