title: trans-Resveratrol relaxes the corpus cavernosum ex vivo and enhances testosterone levels and sperm quality in vivo.
abstract: We examined the effects of trans-resveratrol on male reproductive functions; ex-vivo penile erection and in-vivo sperm counts and quality. For the ex-vivo study, the relaxation effects of resveratrol on isolated New Zealand white rabbit corpus cavernosum, precontracted by phenylephrine (5x10(-5) M) were measured. The in-vivo study measured reproductive organ weights, blood testosterone levels, testicular histopathology, sperm counts, as well as the epididymal sperm motility and deformity of male ICR mice given an oral dose of resveratrol (50 mg/ kg) for 28 days. Resveratrol elicited a concentration-dependent relaxing effect on corpus cavernosum, leading to a median effective concentration (EC50) of 0.29 mg/mL. Repeated treatment with resveratrol (50 mg/kg) did not cause an increase in body weight, reproductive organ weight or testicular microscopic findings; however, resveratrol did elicit an increase in blood testosterone concentration, testicular sperm counts and epididymal sperm motility by 51.6%, 15.8% and 23.3%, respectively, without influence on sperm deformity. In conclusion, we propose that resveratrol has a positive effect on male reproductive function by triggering a penile erection, as well as enhancing blood testosterone levels, testicular sperm counts, and epididymal sperm motility.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea.
authors.forename: Sunhee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jeong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Dongsun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jae Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Bong-Ho
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seong Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Sang-Seop
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nahm
authors.forename: Jong-Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yun-Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013267:Stilbenes; D013739:Testosterone; D000077185:Resveratrol