Silk amino acids improve physical stamina and male reproductive function of mice.
The effects of a silk amino acid (SAA) preparation on the physical stamina and male reproductive function of mice were investigated. Eight-week-old male ICR mice (29-31 g) were orally administered SAA (50, 160 or 500 mg/kg) for 44 d during 30-min daily swimming exercise. The mice were subjected to a weight-loaded (5% of body weight) forced swimming on the 14th, 28th and 42nd day to determine maximum swimming time, and after a 2-d recovery period (treated with SAA without swimming exercise), parameters related to fatigue and reproductive function were analyzed from blood, muscles and reproductive organs. Repeated swimming exercise increased the maximum swimming time to some extent, in spite of a marked reduction in body weight gain, and SAA further enhanced the stamina in a dose-dependent manner. Forced swimming exercises increased blood parameters of tissue injury, but depleted blood glucose and tissue glycogen, which were substantially prevented by SAA treatment. In addition, SAA significantly reduced the muscular thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and blood corticosterone content increased by forced swimming. Swimming exercise decreased the blood testosterone level, which was recovered by SAA, leading to enhanced sperm counts. These combined results indicate that SAA not only enhances physical stamina by minimizing damage to tissues, including muscles, as well as preventing energy depletion caused by swimming stress, but also improves male reproductive function by increasing testosterone and sperm counts.
Shin
Sunhee
S
College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, 410 Seongbongro (Gaeshin-dong), Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Republic of Korea.
Yeon
Seongho
S
Park
Dongsun
D
Oh
Jiyoung
J
Kang
Hyomin
H
Kim
Sunghyun
S
Joo
Seong Soo
SS
Lim
Woo-Taek
WT
Lee
Jeong-Yong
JY
Choi
Kyung-Chul
KC
Kim
Ki Yon
KY
Kim
Seung Up
SU
Kim
Jong-Choon
JC
Kim
Yun-Bae
YB
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D047030:Sericins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D047030:Sericins; D047011:Silk