Effects of schisandra on the function of the pituitary-adrenal cortex, gonadal axis and carbohydrate metabolism in rats undergoing experimental chronic psychological stress, navigation and strenuous exercise / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of schisandra on the function of the pituitary-adrenal cortex, gonadal axis and carbohydrate metabolism in male rats undergoing experimental chronic psychological stress, navigation and strenuous exercise.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-four SD rats were randomly allocated into a non-stress group (Group A), a stress control group (Group B) and a schisandra group (Group C). The latter two groups received 10 days of Benford's high-intensity training, followed by 3 hours of wearing floating with psychological stress and another 3 hours of running at the speed of 26.7 m/min. Then blood samples were immediately obtained for the measurement of the levels of testosterone (T), corticosterone (CORT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and blood glucose (Glu). Meanwhile the adrenal gland was excised and its cortex ultrastructure observed under the electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Glu level was increased while the T level decreased significantly in Group B as compared with Group A. The CORT level remained unchanged in Group B. Both the Glu and CORT levels were significantly reduced in Group C in comparison with B. However, no significant differences were found in serum LH levels among the three groups. And electron microscopy revealed a reduction of lipid droplets and apoptosis of the adrenal cortex cells in Group B as compared with C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Schisandra can reduce the levels of CORT and Glu and protect the structure of the adrenal cortex.</p>

Salidroside protects the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis of male rats undergoing negative psychological stress in experimental navigation and intensive exercise / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of salidroside on the function and ultramicro-pathological change of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of male rats in experimental navigation and intensive exercise.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six-week SD rats were randomized into 3 groups: non-stress control (NC, n = 10), training control (TC, n = 12) and salidroside treatment (ST, n = 12) group. Blood samples were collected from the NC rats that did not receive any stimulus after a 7-day intragastric administration of saline. The TC rats underwent a 10-day running training with increasing load on the treadmill followed by a 7-day intragastric administration of saline. The ST rats were subjected to the same process of running training as the TC group and received intragastric administration of salidroside. Then blood samples were immediately obtained and the levels of testosterone (T), corticosterone (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) measured by radioimmunoassay. The testis histopathology was observed by HE staining, and the ultrastructural changes of the pituitaries and testes investigated by electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum T level was significantly lower in the TC than in the NC group, but showed no significant difference between the ST and NC groups. HE staining revealed no significant difference in testis histopathology among the 3 groups. Ultramicro-pathology showed that the secretory granules of the pituitary cells were significantly reduced in the TC rats compared with the NC ones; the number of the granules significantly increased in the ST group compared with the TC rats; and mitochondrial swelling, increase of electron density and decrease/disappearance of mitochondrial cristae were observed in the Leydig cells of the TC rats. But no significant differences were found in the testicular cells between the ST and NC groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Negative psychological stress and intensive exercise can significantly suppress the function of the HPG axis in rats. Salidroside therapy has protective effect on the HPG axis.</p>

Experimental navigation and deuteroexhaustive exercise suppress the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicle axis in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of experimental navigation and deuteroexhaustive exercise on the serum levels of testosterone (T), corticosterone (CORT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into an experimental navigation group (Group A), which underwent 180 min wearing floating with psychological stress, a deuteroexhaustive exercise group (Group B), which were subjected to 120 min intensive running on the treadmill after the accomplishment of the same procedure as Group A, and a control group (Group C). Blood samples were obtained at the end of the experiment to determine the T, CORT, LH and FSH of the rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group C, serum T was statistically decreased in Group A and B (P < 0.05), while CORT was increased slightly in Group A and significantly in Group B (P < 0.05). A statistically lower level of serum LH was observed in Group B (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were found in serum FSH among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stresses of experimental navigation and intensive exercise suppress the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicle axis in rats.</p>

Azoospermia factor microdeletion on Y chromosome in patients with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the correlation between male infertility and Y chromosome microdeletions of azoospermia factor (AZF) regions, and to establish a reliable genetic diagnosis in idiopathic infertile male patients with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia.@*METHODS@#Multiplex PCR amplification of 6 sequence-tagged sites in AZF regions of the Y chromosome was examined among 100 normal karyotype male patients with azoospermia or oligozoospermia.@*RESULTS@#Four patients (4%) had Y chromosome microdeletions, the microdeletions of 3 patients were idiopathic azoospermic and those of the other 1 patient were secretory azoospermia.@*CONCLUSION@#The PCR-based Y chromosome microdeletion screening is simple and effective in the diagnosis of patients with severe male infertility. Microdeletion of Y chromosome is one of the major causes of severe dyszooospermia.