[Bushen Huoxue Recipe reduces cyclophosphamide-induced apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Bushen Huoxue Recipe (BHR) on cyclophosphamide-induced apoptosis of testicular spermatogenic cells in mice and its possible action mechanisms. METHODS: Fifty male Babl/c mice aged 8－9 weeks were randomly divided into five groups of an equal number: blank control, model control, low-dose BHR, medium-dose BHR and high-dose BHR. The animals in the blank control group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline, while those in the other four groups with cyclophosphamide at 50 mg/kg/d, all for 7 days. After modeling, the mice in the blank and model control groups were given distilled water via gavage once a day, and those in the low-, medium- and high-dose BHR groups treated intragastrically with BHR at 7.5, 15 and 30 g/kg/d qd for 30 successive days. Then, the apoptosis index of the testicular spermatogenic cells was obtained by TUNEL and the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and proteins determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the mice in the blank control group, the BHR model controls showed dramatically increased apoptosis of testicular spermatogenic cells and up-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in the testis tissue (P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the mice in the BHR treatment groups exhibited significantly reduced apoptosis of testicular spermatogenic cells and down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in the testis tissue (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Bushen Huoxue Recipe can reduce cyclophosphamide-induced apoptosis of testicular spermatogenic cells in mice, which may be associated with its ability of regulating the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and proteins in the testis tissue.

[Bushen Daozhuo Granules for type â ¢ prostatitis: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of Bushen Daozhuo Granules (BDG) in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial included 478 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis, 290 in the trial group and 188 as controls, the former treated with BDG at 200 ml bid and the latter with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustainedrelease capsules at 0.2 mg qd, both for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 4 weeks of medication, and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, we obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIHCPSI) scores and compared the safety and effectiveness rate between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the NIHCPSI score was markedly decreased in the control group after 4 weeks of medication (21.42 ± 4.02 vs 15.67 ± 3.65, P < 0.05) but showed no statistically significant difference from that at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (19.03 ± 3.86) (P>0.05), while the NIHCPSI score in the trial group was remarkably lower than the baseline both after 4 weeks of medication and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (10.92 ± 2.06 and 12.91 ± 2.64 vs 21.58 ± 3.67, P < 0.05). The trial group exhibited both a higher rate of total effectiveness and safety than the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BDG is safe and effective for the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis.