title: Effects of KH-204 on the expression of heat shock protein 70 and germ cell apoptosis in infertility rat models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic infertility is a significant number of causes of male infertility. Empirical treatments are used for idiopathic male infertility, and antioxidant supplementation is a kind of management of oxidative stress related infertility. We investigated the antioxidant effects of the modified Ojayeonjonghwan (KH-204) in a rat model of cryptorchidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 in each): a normal control group, a cryptorchidism-induced control group and two cryptorchidism-induced groups treated p.o. with either 200 or 400 mg/kg, KH-204 for 4 weeks. The testes and epididymides from rats in all groups were removed, weighed and subjected to histological examination and semen analysis after surgery. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring 8-hydroxy-20-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and heat shock protein (HSP) levels. Apoptosis was determined using a terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with the multi-herbal medicine KH-204 (1) increased the mean weight of the cryptorchid testes; (2) restored sperm counts, motility and germinal cell layer thickness; (3) decreased levels of 8-OHdG and increased levels of SOD; and (4) decreased HSP70 levels and apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KH-204 reduces the oxidative stress in an experimental rat model of cryptorchidism, and it may alleviate HSP expression and germ cell apoptosis.
authors.forename: Woong Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: U Syn
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Kang Sup
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyuk Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung Hoo
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ji Youl
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sung Yeoun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea. ksw1227@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sae Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts