title: Effects of Saikokaryukotsuboreito on Spermatogenesis and Fertility in Aging Male Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspermia caused by exogenous testosterone limit its usage in late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) patients desiring fertility. Saikokaryukotsuboreito (SKRBT) is reported to improve serum testosterone and relieve LOH-related symptoms. However, it is unclear whether SKRBT affects fertility. We aimed to examine the effects of SKRBT on spermatogenesis and fertility in aging male mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty aging male mice were randomly assigned to three groups. Mice were orally administered with phosphate-buffer solution or SKRBT (300 mg/kg, daily) or received testosterone by subcutaneous injections (10 mg/kg, every 3 days). Thirty days later, each male mouse was mated with two female mice. All animals were sacrificed at the end of 90 days. Intratesticular testosterone (ITT) levels, quality of sperm, expression of synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3), and fertility were assayed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the SKRBT-treated group, ITT, quality of sperm, and expression of SYCP3 were all improved compared with the control group (ITT: 85.50 ± 12.31 ng/g vs. 74.10 ± 11.45 ng/g, P = 0.027; sperm number: [14.94 ± 4.63] × 106 cells/ml vs. [8.79 ± 4.38] × 106 cells/ml, P = 0.002; sperm motility: 43.16 ± 9.93% vs. 33.51 ± 6.98%, P = 0.015; the number of SYCP3-positive cells/tubule: 77.50 ± 11.01 ng/ml vs. 49.30 ± 8.73 ng/ml, P < 0.001; the expression of SYCP3 protein: 1.23 ± 0.09 vs. 0.84 ± 0.10, P < 0.001), but fertility was not significantly changed (P > 0.05, respectively). In the testosterone-treated group, ITT, quality of sperm, and expression of SYCP3 were markedly lower than the control group (ITT: 59.00 ± 8.67, P = 0.005; sperm number: [4.34 ± 2.45] × 106 cells/ml, P = 0.018; sperm motility: 19.53 ± 7.69%, P = 0.001; the number of SYCP3-positive cells/tubule: 30.00 ± 11.28, P < 0.001; the percentage of SYCP3-positive tubules/section 71.98 ± 8.88%, P = 0.001; the expression of SYCP3 protein: 0.71 ± 0.09, P < 0.001), and fertility was also suppressed (P < 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SKRBT had no adverse effect on fertility potential in aging male mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infertility and Sexual Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Su-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Ya-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C490062:Sycp3 protein, mouse; C095444:saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to; D013739:Testosterone