title: [Effects of Qiangjing Capsule on the oxidative and antioxidative system in the epididymis of varicocele rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of Qiangjing Capsule (QC) on the oxidative amd antioxidative system in the epididymis of varicocele rats in comparison with those of Shaofuzhuyu Capsule (SC) and Wuziyanzong Capsule (WC), and to explore its possible mechanism of enhancing epididymal sperm maturation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten of 100 adolescent male SD rats were randomized to a sham-operation group, and varicocele models were successfully established in 72 of the other 90 by narrowing of the left renal vein. Then the model rats were equally assigned to 6 groups: model control, high-dose QC (0.216 g/ml), medium-dose QC (0.108 g/ml), low-dose QC (0.054 g/ml), SC (0.146 g/ml), and WC (0.130 g/ml). After 4 weeks of treatment, we determined the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the left epididymis of different groups of rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group showed a significant decrease in GPx activity (P < 0.01) and a marked increase in the MDA level (P < 0.05). And the high-dose QC group exhibited a significantly hither GPx activity and lower MDA level than all the other groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varicocele can reduce the activity of GPx and elevate the level of MDA in the epididymis of rats, while Qiangjing Capsule can increase the former and decrease the latter, and thereby may improve epididymal microenvironment, enhance epididymal sperm maturation and promote fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhengzhou People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China. doctor81@126.com
authors.forename: Xiao-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Zhong-jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Qian-he
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jian-ting
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Pei-hai
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shu-wu
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase