[Effects of zhibal dihuang decotion on UU-infected rat's spermatogenic cell apoptosis and expressions of caspase-3 and caspase-9].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of Zhibai Dihuang Decotion (ZDD) on the ureaplasma urealyticum (UU)-infected rats' spermatogenic cell apoptosis and expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9.


METHODS
45 out of 60 male SD rats were randomly selected and made into the UU infected animal model. The rest 15 were taken as the sham-operation group. The UU infected model animals were then randomly divided into the model group, the minocycline group, and the ZDD group. From the 10th day after inoculation, normal saline was given to rats of the model group and the sham-operation group by gastrogavage, while corresponding medicines were given to rats in the minocycline group and the ZDD group. All rats were killed after 21 successive days of gastrogavage. The apoptosis rate of reproductive cells, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression levels and ultrastructure changes of spermatogenic cells of each group were detected and compared.


RESULTS
There was statistical difference in the positive rate of the UU cultivation results, the apoptosis rate of reproductive cells, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 expression levels in the sham-operation group, the minocycline group, and the ZDD group when compared with the model group (P<0.05). There was statistical difference in the aforesaid indices in the minocycline group and the ZDD group when compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.05). Still there was no statistical difference in the aforesaid indices between the minocycline group and the ZDD group (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
UU infection can lead to the increasing of spermatogenic cell's apoptosis in rats. ZDD could actively inhibit the growth and production of UU with anti-UU. One of the mechanisms of ZDD in treating UU infection and improving the sperm quality is through regulating the expressions of the apoptosis effect factors Caspase-3 and Caspase-9.
Key Discipline of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208.
Chao-sheng
CS
Liu
Fang-guo
FG
Lu
Qing-hu
QH
He
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C540472:zhibai dihuang; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; C506435:Casp9 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9