[Comparison of the anti-fertility effects of four extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the anti-fertility effects of the four extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour on male mice, that is, ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate extract, n-butanol extract and aqueous extract.


METHODS
Four extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour (1%, 0.1 ml/10 g), were administered orally for 11 weeks to adult male mice. The fertility and testicular function of the mice were assessed by mating tests and analyses of sperm motility in cauda epididymides and biochemical and histological indexes in the blood samples and reproductive organs.


RESULTS
The four extracts, especially aqueous extract, gradually decreased the pregnancy rate of the experimental mice from the 77th day of the treatment, with an obvious reduction in the number of spermatozoa. Morphological observation of the reproductive organs by light microscopy showed that the numbers of the secondary spermatocytes and spermatids were decreased in varied degrees, and the seminiferous tubules were disarranged, while the numbers and shapes of and spermatids were decreased in varied degrees, and the seminiferous tubules were disarranged, while the numbers and shapes of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
The four extracts from the roots of Rhynchosia volubilis Lour all have anti-fertility effects on male mice, and that of the aqueous extract is more obvious.
Wang
Jian-Gang
JG
Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. ylwjg@163.com
Xiong
Cheng-Liang
CL
Wang
Shu-Ying
SY
Wu
Yin-Ping
YP
Fu
Yin-Feng
YF
Zhang
Zhao-Hui
ZH
D020001:1-Butanol; D000085:Acetates; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014867:Water
D000085:Acetates; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; C007650:ethyl acetate; D020001:1-Butanol