[Protection of extract from Cuscuta japonica on human sperm acrosome and ultrastructure].
OBJECTIVE
To study the oxidation damage of active oxygen (ROS) to human sperm acrosome and ultrastructure, and study the function mechanism about Cuscuta japonica treating male's infertility and asthenoospermia.


METHODS
By using the Percoll gradient centrifugation, the sperm with normal physiological function were selected for the normal sperm model, and the sperm suspension were divided into the normal group, the model group, the positive control group (Vitamin C group), and the lugh, the median and the low dose gvoups of C. japonica. The ROS made from hypoxanthine-xanzine xanzine(HX-XO) and different content (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 g x mL(-1)) of extract were incubated with sperm in the oxygen environment. The acrosomic integrity rate were calculated and the sperm acrosome and ultrastructure were observed.


RESULTS
The content (0.125, 0.5 g x mL(-1)) of extract had no obvious difference as compared with Vitamin C (0.25 mg x mL(-1)) in protecting the acrosome and ultrastructure, but the content (0.25 mg x mL(-1)) of extract was significantly better than Vit C (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The suitable content of extract from C. japonica can significantly protect the sperm membrane, the acosomic structure and the mitochondrion function from the damage caused by ROS.
Yang
Xin
X
Zhejiang Province Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
Ding
Cai-fei
CF
Zhang
Yong-hua
YH
Yan
Zhi-zhong
ZZ
Du
Jing
J
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000328:Adult; D034182:Cuscuta / Q000737:chemistry*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species