[Urokinase-type plasminogen activator improves the reproductive function of male rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on the reproductive function of the male rats with ornidazole-induced infertility.


METHODS
Fifty 10-12 weeks old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: low-dosage uPA (330 IU/[kg x d]), mid-dosage uPA (1000 IU/[kg x d]), high-dosage uPA (3000 IU/[kg x d]), ornidazole (400 mg/[kg x d]) and control (0.5% Carboxymethylcellulose solution). The ornidazole group was treated by gastric gavage, and the rats in the uPA groups given both ornidazole by gastric gavage and uPA by intraperitoneal injection at the same time. All the rats were treated for 20 days consecutively, followed by copulation experiment. The rats were sacrificed and the reproductive system explored.


RESULTS
The percentage of motile sperm and the number of embryos in the high-dosage uPA group increased significantly (P < 0.01) compared with the ornidazole group.


CONCLUSIONS
uPA can antagonize ornidazole-induced infertility in male rats. The effect might be attributed to the improvement of sperm motile function by uPA.
Ming
Yu
Y
Family Planning Research Institute, Pharmacy School, Tongfi Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. myw1976@126.com
Shang
Xue-jun
XJ
Xiong
Cheng-liang
CL
Pang
Xue-bing
XB
Xiong
Fen
F
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009950:Ornidazole; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009950:Ornidazole; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator