title: [Morinda officialis how extract improves microwave-induced reproductive impairment in male rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of different concentrations of Morinda Officialis How (MOH) extracts on microwave radiation-induced injury to the spermatogenic function of male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty SD male rats were equally divided into four groups: control, microwave injury model, aqueous extract of MOH treatment, and alcohol extract of MOH treatment. Models of microwave-induced injury were made by exposing the rats to microwave radiation from a microwave signal generator (900 MHz 1.0 W) at 218 microm/cm2, 12 h/d, for 2 weeks. The model rats of the two treatment groups were intragastrically given aqueous extract and alcohol extract of MOH, respectively, both at 20 g per kg per day for 2 weeks. Then we observed the growth, capture incubation period (CIP), capture times (CT), changes in testicular and epididymal weight and morphology, sperm concentration and malformation, and levels of serum testosterone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the controls, the rats of the model group showed a slightly reduced body weight, markedly prolonged CIP and decreased CT (P < 0.05), significantly reduced sperm concentration (P < 0.05) and remarkably in- creased sperm malformation (P < 0.05), but no statistically significant differences in the testosterone level. The two treatment groups exhibited obviously decreased body weight, CIP and sperm malformation compared with the control group (P < 0.05) but markedly increased CT, sperm concentration and testosterone level as compared with the models (P < 0.05). The microwave radiation-induced testis injury was repaired perfectly in the two treatment groups, the epididymal ducts filled with sperm and cast-off cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both aqueous and alcohol extracts of MOH can promote spermatogenesis and repair of reproductive injury induced by microwave radiation.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Neurobiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Juan
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yong-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000009:adverse effects; D032066:Morinda; D009929:Organ Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone