title: [Chinese herbal medicine enhances sexual function and c-Fos/nNOS expression in the nucleus accumbens of orchidectomized rats].
abstract: RESULTS
  There was a decrease in accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and sexual behavior, as well as a low number of c-Fos-positive cells and a large nNOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats. Administration of the herbal medicine increased accessory genital organ weight, testosterone level, mating behavior, and c-Fos-positive cell number, while it decreased the nNOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increase of plasma testosterone after administration of "kidney-nourishing" herbal medicine might contribute to the elevated sexual function and activity in orchidectomized rats. In addition, a central nervous system mechanism, such as the functional alteration of NAc, might be involved. Abstract
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the central nervous system is involved in the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on sexual function recovery in orchidectomized rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orchidectomized rats were administered intragastrically with a decoction of "kidney-nourishing" Chinese herbal medicine once per day for 28 days. Accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and mating behavior were investigated. The expression of c-Fos and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in neuronal cells in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianmei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Jinjuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009919:Orchiectomy; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D013739:Testosterone; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I