Effects of Qiangjing Tablets on Sperm Quality,Androgen Production and Utilization in Pre-Ageing Male Rats
Objective To observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets(QJT)on sperm quality and the production and utilization of androgens in pre-ageing male rats,and to explore the possible mechanisms through the androgen receptor(AR)and testosterone synthesis pathways.Methods Six 2-month-old SD rats were set as the control group,and 24 19-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into model group,QJT low,medium and high dose group,with 6 rats in each group.The control group and the model group were treated with normal saline by gavage,and the QJT low,medium and high dose group were treated with corresponding doses of QJT(0.72,1.44,2.88 g·kg-1·d-1,respectively).The intervention lasted for 4 weeks.Sperm density,sperm viability and motile sperm rate were measured.Serum luteinizing hormone(LH),total testosterone(TT),free testosterone(FT),and sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG)were measured by ELISA,and testosterone secretion index(TSI)was calculated.Protein expression of testis AR,steroid acute production regulatory protein(StAR),cytochrome P450 side chain lyase(CYP11A1),cytochrome P450 17-α-hydroxylase/20-lyase(CYP17A1)and 3 β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase(3β-HSD)were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the control group,the sperm density,sperm viability,sperm motility rate and TSI decreased(P＜0.01),while serum SHBG and the expression of testis AR,StAR and 3 β-HSD increased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the sperm density,sperm viability and motile sperm rate increased in QJT high dose group(P＜0.01).TSI decreased(P＜0.05),expression of testis CYP17AR increased in QJT high and medium dose group(P＜0.01).The expression of testis AR increased(P＜0.01),the expression of testis StAR,3β-HSD and CYP11A1 protein decreased(P＜0.01)in the QJT low,medium,and high dose group.Conclusion QJT could improve sperm quality in pre-ageing male rats,alleviate the compensation of testosterone production and increase the utilization of androgen in the testis of pre-ageing male rats,which may be related to the regulation of StAR,3β-HSD,CYP11A1 and CYP17A1 and the up-regulation of AR expression in the testicular tissue.
国家科技期刊平台
NSTL
万方数据
