[Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids reduce the expression of GM-CSF in the testis of oligozoospermia rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCF) on the expression of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the testis of the rat with oligozoospermia (OZ).

METHODS

Thirty SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups of equal number, blank control, OZ model control and CCF intervention. The OZ model was established in the latter two groups by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at 30 mg/kg qd for 5 successive days. From the 6th day, the rats in the CCF intervention group were treated intragastrically with mixed suspension of CCF at 5 mL/kg and those in the other two groups with normal saline, all for 4 weeks. The epididymal sperm concentration and motility and the testicular morphology were examined and the expression of GM-CSF in the testis tissue detected with the SELDI Protein Chip.

RESULTS

Compared with the rats in the blank control and CCF intervention groups, the OZ model controls showed dramatically decreased epididymal sperm concentration and motility (both P < 0.01) and significant morphological changes in the testis with deformed seminiferous tubules and reduced number and disordered arrangement of spermatogenic cells. Normal testicular morphology was observed in the CCF intervention group and there were no statistically significant differences in sperm concentration and motility between the CCF intervention and blank control groups (P > 0.05). The expression of GM-CSF was significantly up-regulated in the testis tissue of the OZ model controls but lower than the minimum value obtained with the SELDI Protein Chip in the blank control and CCF intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids can significantly down-regulate the expression of GM-CSF in the testis of the rats with cyclophosphamide-induced oligozoospermia.

[Qilin Pills improve sperm quality in patients with oligozoospermia]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the therapeutic effect of Qilin Pills (QLP) on oligoasthenospermia.

METHODS

This prospective study included 168 patients diagnosed with oligozoospermia in our hospital between September 2015 and September 2017, and all of them failed to achieve pregnancy. We randomly divided them into a QLP group (n = 82) and a placebo control group (n = 86) to receive oral QLPs or placebo pills, respectively, both at 6 g tid for 6 months. We followed up the patients and recorded their routine semen parameters every month during the medication and the rate of pregnancy in their spouses.

RESULTS

After 6 months of treatment, the QLP group, as compared with the placebo controls, showed significantly improved sperm concentration (25.13 ×10⁶/ml vs 11.62 ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), grade a+b sperm (33.81% vs 17.32%, P < 0.01), grade a sperm (22.84% vs 13.56%, P < 0.01) and sperm motility (56.33% vs 26.23%, P < 0.01); and 26 pregnancies were achieved in the QLP group (32.91%), remarkably more than 13 in the placebo control group (15.85%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Qilin Pills can effectively improve sperm quality and increase the rate of pregnancy.

[L-carnitine improves sperm acrosin activity in male infertility patients]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of L-carnitine (LC) on low sperm acrosin activity in infertile man.

METHODS

A total of 240 male infertility patients with low sperm acrosin activity were randomly assigned to an LC group (n = 180) and a control group (n = 60) to be treated with LC (1g, tid) and vitamin E (VE) capsules (100 mg, tid) respectively, both for 3 months. Based on the results of routine semen analysis, the patients in the experimental group were further divided into oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and normozoospermia subgroups. Semen parameters and sperm acrosin activity were examined before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Totally, 220 of the patients completed the treatment and follow-up, 163 in the LC medication and 57 in the VE control group. Compared with the baseline, the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) was significantly increased in the LC group after 3 months of treatment (［32.58 ± 1.13］% vs ［36.35 ± 1.26］%, P < 0.05), and so was sperm acrosin activity (［37.05±0.66］ vs ［58.61±1.93］ μIU/106 sperm, P < 0.01). Sperm concentration, PMS and sperm acrosin activity were also improved in the VE control group after treatment, but with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). In comparison with pretreatment, remarkable increases were observed after LC medication in sperm concentration in the oligozoospermia subgroup (［11.27 ± 0.73］ vs ［21.82 ± 4.21］ ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.01) and PMS in the asthenozoospermia patients (［20.61 ± 0.85］% vs ［29.81 ± 1.88］%, P < 0.01). And sperm acrosin activity was even higher after treatment in the asthenozoospermia than in the oligozoospermia and normozoospermia subgroups (［60.85 ± 3.04］ vs ［56.32 ± 2.86］ and ［57.09 ± 6.31］ μIU/106 sperm, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

L-carnitine can effectively elevate sperm acrosin activity in male infertility patients, particularly in those with asthenozoospermia.