Effects of Panax ginseng on glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression and spermatogenesis in rats.
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.
Yang
Woong Mo
WM
Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Soo Yeon
SY
Kim
Hyung-Min
HM
Park
Eun Hwa
EH
Park
Seong Kyu
SK
Chang
Mun Seog
MS
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
C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D013739:Testosterone