Effect and Potential Mechanism of Huangjing on Oxidative Stress in Oligoasthenozoospermia Rats

ZHU Congxu; SHENG Wen; LI Bonan; CHEN Dan; SUN Tiansong; HE Qinghu; LIU Lumei

Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of Huangjing on rats with oligoasthenozoospermia(OAS)and its potential mechanisms of action.Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group.The OAS model was induced by cyclophosphamide.After modeling,the rats were randomly divided into a model group,a Huangjing group,and a L-carnitine group.The corresponding drugs were administered by gavage for 4 weeks.Sperm concentration and motility were detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis(CASA).The morphological structure of testicular tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The ultrastructure of spermatogonia was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM).The level of oxidative stress was assessed by reactive oxygen species(ROS)fluorescence staining.The expression changes of oxidative stress-related genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction microarray(PCR array).Results Huangjing intervention significantly increased the sperm concentration and motility in rats with OAS(P<0.05),improved the morphological structure of testicular tissue(P<0.05),and decreased the ROS content in the testes(P<0.05).PCR array results showed that compared with the model group,16 genes in the testes of rats in the Huangjing group exhibited differences(P<0.05),with significantly changed genes including Scd,Serpinb1b,and Mb(P<0.001).Conclusion Huangjing alleviated oxidative stress injury in rats with OAS by regulating the expression of oxidative stress-related genes.The findings of this study may provide potential molecular markers and drug targets for the diagnosis and treatment of OAS.