title: Cynomorium songaricum induces spermatogenesis with glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) enhancement in rat testes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cynomorium songaricum Ruprecht has been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat male infertility, including sexual dysfunction, by improving kidney function. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) produced by Sertoli cells induces the proliferation of undifferentiated spermatogonia. We investigated the effects of Cynomorium songaricum on sperm parameters and GDNF expression in rat testes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm analysis, RT-PCR, and Western blotting assays were performed after administration of CS to 8-week-old male Wistar rats for 56 consecutive days (1.0g/kg/day, p.o.), the period of sperm formation in the rat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CS-treated animals showed significant increases in epididymal sperm count and absolute testes weights compared to the control group. CS also increased the expression of GDNF at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results suggest that CS may improve male fertility by enhancing spermatogenesis and GDNF expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. comskp@khu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Woong Mo
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ha Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mun Seog
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seong Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002452:Cell Count; D002477:Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D022082:Cellular Structures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D031482:Cynomorium / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger