title: [Compound Xuanju capsule improves sex hormones and sex organ indexes in castrated male rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Compound Xuanju Capsule on the levels of sex hormones and the weight of sexual organs in castrated male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized model control trail was performed in 60 young male SD rats of SPF grade, of which 12 were included in the normal control group, and the others were castrated and randomly divided into a model control group and a high-dose, a median-dose and a low-dose Xuanju group. The control groups received intragastric administration of normal saline, and the model groups solution of Compound Xuanju Capsule, all for 20 days. Then we determined by radioimmunoassay the levels of testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the peripheral blood of the rats, and measured the weights of the epididymis, preputial gland, seminal vesicle, prostate and levator ani muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T levels were remarkably lower in the castrated groups than in the normal controls, and significantly higher in the three Xuanju groups than in the model controls (P < 0.01). Both LH and FSH levels were increased in the model control and Xuanju groups as compared with the normal control group, the former with statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) and the latter without. In comparison with the normal controls, the model control rats showed a marked reduction in the indexes of the preputial gland, seminal vesicle, prostate and levator ani muscle, and the high-dose Xuanju group exhibited a significant increase in the seminal vesicle index as compared with the model controls (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the indexes of preputial gland, prostate and levator ani muscle among different dose groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compound Xuanju Capsule can elevate T and LH levels in the peripheral blood of male SD rats and improve the indexes of their sex organs, which may be an important mechanism behind its effect on ED.
authors: Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, China. zhoushaohu@vip.163.com
authors: Shao-hu
authors: SH
authors: Zhou
authors: Zhi-wei
authors: ZW
authors: Weng
authors: Yang-qian
authors: YQ
authors: Chen
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Li
authors: Yong-qi
authors: YQ
authors: Fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; C539008:fufang xuanju; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone