Urokinase-type plasminogen activator improves the reproductive function of male rats / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on the reproductive function of the male rats with ornidazole-induced infertility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty 10-12 weeks old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups low-dosage uPA (330 IU/[kg x d]), mid-dosage uPA (1000 IU/[kg x d]), high-dosage uPA (3000 IU/[kg x d]), ornidazole (400 mg/[kg x d]) and control (0.5% Carboxymethylcellulose solution). The ornidazole group was treated by gastric gavage, and the rats in the uPA groups given both ornidazole by gastric gavage and uPA by intraperitoneal injection at the same time. All the rats were treated for 20 days consecutively, followed by copulation experiment. The rats were sacrificed and the reproductive system explored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentage of motile sperm and the number of embryos in the high-dosage uPA group increased significantly (P < 0.01) compared with the ornidazole group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>uPA can antagonize ornidazole-induced infertility in male rats. The effect might be attributed to the improvement of sperm motile function by uPA.</p>