title: Effects of Panax ginseng on glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression and spermatogenesis in rats.
abstract: Panax ginseng (PG) is a medicinal herb which has been used to improve male reproduction in traditional Korean medicine. This study investigated the effect of PG on spermatogenesis and the regulation of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which has a crucial role in spermatogonial stem cell maintenance. PG was administered to 8-week-old male Wistar rats (1.0 g/kg/day, p.o.) for 56 consecutive days, the sperm formation period of the rat. Sperm analysis, RT-PCR and western blot assays were then carried out. The PG-treated group had significantly enhanced sperm counts, GDNF mRNA level and protein level. These results suggest that PG induces spermatogenesis and GDNF activation in rat testes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woong Mo
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Soo Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mun Seog
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D013739:Testosterone