Regulatory effect of Yangjing Capsule on the expressions of phosphor-Erk1 and phosphor-Akt1 in the corpus cavernosum of aged rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Yangjing Capsule on the expressions of P-Erk1 and P-Akt1 in the corpus cavernosum of aged rats and to explore its action mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty 24-month-old SD rats were equally randomized into an experimental and a control group, 10 selected from each group for detection of the eNOS expression before medication. The rats in the experimental group (n = 10) were treated intragastrically with Yangjing Capsule, while those in the control with physiological saline, both at 0.5 g per kg body weight per day for 4 weeks. Then all the rats were killed, and the corpus cavernosum tissues harvested for determination of the expressions of eNOS, P-Erk1 and P-Akt1 by HE staining, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Obvious distension was observed in the experimental group, but not in the control. The expression of eNOS in the rat corpus cavernosum was significantly higher after treatment than before treatment in the experimental group (24.10 +/- 2.40 vs 18.80 +/- 2.04, P < 0.05), but presented no obvious difference in the control (18.15 +/- 1.98 vs 19.35 +/- 1.50, P > 0.05), and it was remarkably higher in the former than in the latter (P < 0.05). The expression of P-Erk1 was markedly lower in the experimental than in the control rats (0.71 +/- 0.13 vs 0.83 +/- 0.17, P < 0.01), but that of P-Akt1 exhibited no remarkable difference in the same condition of GAPDH between the two groups (0.58 +/- 0.17 vs 0.48 + 0.13, P > 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both P-Erk1 and P-Akt were expressed in the corpus cavernosum of the aged rats. Yangjing Capsule could improve the sexual function of aged rats, which might be associated with the lowered expression of P-Erk1.</p>

Yangjing capsule plus low-dose tadalafil for functional anejaculation / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To search for an effective therapy for functional anejaculation (AE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-five AE patients were randomized into a treatment group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 25), the former treated with Yangjing Capsule (once 5 pills, tid) and low-dose tadalafil (5 mg, qd alt, 1 h before bedtime), while the latter with oral ephedrine (25 mg before bedtime). Meanwhile, the patients were advised to expose themselves to sexual stimulation, reduce the frequency of sexual intercourses and quit masturbation. The medication lasted 1-3 months, followed by observation of the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effectiveness rate was 83.34% in the treatment group, 11 cases cured, 8 obviously improved, 6 improved and 5 unimproved, significantly higher than 40.00% in the control group, 4 cases cured, 3 obviously improved, 3 improved and 15 unimproved (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yangiing Capsule plus low-dose tadalafil is safe and effective for the treatment of functional anejaculation.</p>

Effects of Yixin Kangtai capsule on spermatogenesis and the levels of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in aged SD rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Yixin Kangtai Capsule (YKC) on sperm concentration and motility, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in aged SD rats, and to explore its possible mechanisms of action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly assigned fifty 24-month-old male SD rats to five groups of equal number: blank control, testosterone undecanoate, high-dose YKC, medium-dose YKC and low-dose YKC, and treated them intragastrically with physiological saline at 10 ml/kg, testosterone un-decanoate suspension at 4 mg/kg, and YKC at 0.6 g/kg, 0.3 g/kg and 0.15 g/kg, respectively, once a day for 30 days. Then we harvested the epididymides, which were stripped of fat and envelope, cut into pieces and placed in the saline at 37 degrees C for 10 to 15 minutes. Then we detected the sperm parameters with the Weili CASA sperm analysis system, measured the levels of serum SOD and MDA, and, following HE staining, observed the histomorphological changes of the testicular tissue under the light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the controls, the rats treated with high-, medium- and low-dose YKC exhibited significantly increased sperm concentration ([152.3 +/- 24.0] x 10(6)/ml vs [334.5 +/- 97.7], [302.7 +/- 158.9] and [221.4 +/- 75.6] x 10(6)/ml, P < 0.05) and markedly improved sperm motility ([26.5 +/- 2.0]% vs [35.5 +/- 5.9], [33.1 +/- 5.4] and [28.4 +/- 2.1]%, P < 0.01). High-dose YKC significantly increased the level of serum SOD ([22.0 +/- 5.3] U/ml, P < 0.01) and reduced the content of MDA ([13.6 +/- 4.6] nmol/ ml, P < 0.01). Testicular histology showed that YKC induced more active proliferation of cells, and increased the number of dividing cells and that of mature sperm in the lumen, with little interstitium, abundant blood vessels, and well-developed stromal cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yixin Kangtai Capsule can improve spermatogenesis in aged SD rats by regulating the levels of SOD and MDA.</p>