L-carnitine improves the reproductive function of male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) on the reproductive function of male rats with asthenospermia induced by ornidazole (ORN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty male SD rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into Groups A (control 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose solution), B (medium-dose ORN 400 mg/kg/d), C (medium-dose ORN + LC ORN 400 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d), D (high-dose ORN 800 mg/kg/d), and E (high-dose ORN + LC ORN 800 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d). All the rats were treated via gastric gavage for 20 days consecutively, and then killed for the detection of sperm motility and the sperm count of the cauda epididymis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group A, there was a significant decrease in sperm motility and sperm count in Groups B and D (P < 0.05), while Group C showed a significant increase in both the parameters as compared with B (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference from A (P > 0.05). Group E exhibited no obvious improvement in sperm motility and sperm count, with no difference from D (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>L-carnitine can improve the sperm motility and sperm count of the male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia.</p>