title: [Protection of extract from Cuscuta japonica on human sperm acrosome and ultrastructure].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Province Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Cai-fei
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Yong-hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species