title: Possible mechanism underlying the effect of Heshouwuyin, a tonifying kidney herb, on sperm quality in aging rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herb mixtures are used as alternatives to hormone therapy in China for the treatment of partial androgen deficiency in aging men. However, the compositions of these herb mixtures are complex and their mechanisms are often unknown. This study investigates the effect of Heshouwuyin, a Chinese herbal compound for invigorating the kidney, on the control of testosterone secretion and sperm function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aged Wistar rats were administered with Heshouwuyin. A Shouwu pill group and young group were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphology, chemiluminescence, fluorescence immunohistochemistry, and western blot showed that the epididymal sperm of naturally aged rats had intact plasma membranes. They also had abnormal mitochondrial function and DNA integrity, a significant decline in serum testosterone levels, and significant pathological changes in the structure of testicular tissues. Heshouwuyin significantly improved sperm function and serum testosterone levels, and improved testicular morphology. Moreover, the curative efficacy of Heshouwuyin after 60 days was better than that of Heshouwuyin after 30 days and the Shouwu pill group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heshouwuyin exerts an important role in controlling testosterone secretion and sperm function.
authors.forename: Siyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Jingbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Qingliang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Mingyue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China. zswang@hbu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhenshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingze
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013739:Testosterone