ABSTRACT
Sheng Jing Decoction (SJD), as a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, is mainly be used to treat male infertility. However, the pharmacological functions and molecular mechanisms of SJD are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the functions of SJD on spermatogenesis and sperm motility and explored the potential mechanisms involved. Here, we demonstrated that high, medium, and low doses of SJD are effective in restoring the impairments of the whole body and testicular tissue by cyclophosphamide inducing and to rescue the damage of testicular tissue cells including Sertoli cells and germ cells. SJD can partly restore the decrease in sperm concentration, sperm vitality, sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology rate in oligozoospermic mouse models. Ki67 staining analyses confirm SJD can promote testicular tissue cell proliferation. Real-time RT-PCR analyses also reveal that SJD can upregulate the expression of proliferation-associated gene Lin28a and differentiation-associated genes Kit, Sohlh2, and Stra8. SJD can also reduce the impairment of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and sperm plasma membrane integrity by cyclophosphamide inducing. Our results reveal that SJD is effective in improving both sperm quantity and quality by increasing the sperm concentration, sperm vitality, sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology rate. SJD can promote spermatogenesis by upregulating the expression of the proliferation-associated gene Lin28a and the differentiation-associated genes (Kit, Sohlh2, and Stra8). SJD can sustain MMP and sperm plasma membrane integrity to increase sperm motility.
ABSTRACT
Patterned hydrophobic Ni-P alloy films consisting of orderly and regular micro-nanoscale particles were fabricated through the synergistic effect of electrochemical deposition and chemical deposition. Ni-P alloy films were deposited for different times and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was confirmed that the addition of reducing agent induced the formation of nanoscale particles, in contrast with pure Ni film deposited by single electrochemical deposition. As "point-discharge effect", the current density was higher at the edge of the nanoscale particles, and Ni ions would be deposited at the particles through the "point-discharge effect". Then the Ni-P alloy films grew by "reducing-discharging" process. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to detect the composition and valence states of these alloy films. The existence of oxidation state of element P in these films corresponding to that in H2PO3(-), also gave direct evidence for the occurrence of chemical deposition, during the electrochemical deposition process. The prolongation of deposition time could provide more time for the patterned morphology to grow up. The surface roughness, evaluated by surface profilometer, increased as the deposition time extension. And these films showed gradually increased hydrophobic properties with the increase in deposition time.
ABSTRACT
Patterned micro/nano structural hydrophobic Ni-P films were designed by the combination of electrochemical and chemical deposition. The formation mechanism is illustrated by the gradually changed morphology of the film. This work shows a new method for fabricating a patterned surface morphology with tailored hydrophobicity.
