Effects of Psoralea corylifolia on the cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) expression and spermatogenesis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Psoralea corylifolia (PC) is a medicinal herb used to improve male reproductive function in Korean traditional medicine. It has been used for treatment of male infertility including sexual dysfunction by improving kidney function.


METHODS
To investigate the effect of PC on spermatogenesis, the cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) in rat testes was evaluated using sperm analysis, the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. PC was administered to 10-week-old male Wistar rats for 56 consecutive days, the sperm formation period of the rat.


CONCLUSIONS
The PC-treated rats had increased sperm counts with enhanced levels of CREM messenger RNA and protein, suggesting that PC induces spermatogenesis via CREM activation in rat testes.
Yang
Woong Mo
WM
Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Chang
Mun Seog
MS
Park
Seong Kyu
SK
D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D029907:Psoralea / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D003520:Cyclophosphamide