title: Icariin improves the sexual function of male mice through the PI3K/AKT/eNOS/NO signalling pathway.
abstract: We aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of icariin on male sexual function. Forty-eight Crl:CD1(ICR) male mice were randomly divided into control, low-, medium- and high-dose icariin group (intragastric administration of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/d for 21 days). Mating experiment was then performed at a ratio of 1: 3 (male: female). The mating behaviours of male mice were recorded. The genital indexes and serum testosterone, nitric oxide (NO), hypothalamic dopamine (DA) and 5- hydroxy tryptophan (5-HT) concentrations were measured. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS), phosphatidylinositol tallow alcohol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase (p-AKT) in penile tissue was detected by Western blot. All icariin groups exhibited shorter capture latency and ejaculation latency, increased number of capture and ejaculation, higher capture and ejaculation rate, and higher testicular and prostate indexes compared with controls (p < .001). These groups had higher serum testosterone and NO concentrations (p < .001), hypothalamic DA and 5-HT levels, and eNOS, PI3K and phosphorylated AKT expressions in penile tissue (p < .05). The effect of icariin was dose-dependently increased. Our study suggests that icariin improves the sexual function of male mice, which might be associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the PI3K/AKT/eNOS/NO signalling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Third Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410013, China.|Department of Urology, Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Third Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xiang Ya Hospital/Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province, 410008, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010413:Penis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C056599:icariin
keywords: Icariin; PI3K/AKT/eNOS/NO signalling pathway; nitric oxide; sexual function; testosterone