title: [L-carnitine improves the reproductive function of male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) on the reproductive function of male rats with asthenospermia induced by ornidazole (ORN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male SD rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into Groups A (control: 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose solution), B (medium-dose ORN: 400 mg/kg/d), C (medium-dose ORN + LC: ORN 400 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d), D (high-dose ORN: 800 mg/kg/d), and E (high-dose ORN + LC: ORN 800 mg/kg/d + LC 100 mg/kg/d). All the rats were treated via gastric gavage for 20 days consecutively, and then killed for the detection of sperm motility and the sperm count of the cauda epididymis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with Group A, there was a significant decrease in sperm motility and sperm count in Groups B and D (P < 0.05), while Group C showed a significant increase in both the parameters as compared with B (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference from A (P > 0.05). Group E exhibited no obvious improvement in sperm motility and sperm count, with no difference from D (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-carnitine can improve the sperm motility and sperm count of the male rats with ornidazole-induced asthenospermia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Planning, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing-Zhen
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hao-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009950:Ornidazole / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009950:Ornidazole; D002331:Carnitine