• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

The antifertility activity of methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. stem (MECR) and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed (MECO) were studied on male Swiss albino mice. The extracts were found to decrease sperm count, percentage of motile sperm and testosterone level in treated mice when compared with vehicle control after 17 days of treatment. The weight of gonads, epididymis were decreased whereas no significant changes of the body weight of mice were observed after methanol extract treatments. The fertility test showed 100% negative result in MECR and MECO treated mice at medium and high dose level of treatment. MECR and MECO in low (25 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, respectively), medium (50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively) and high (75 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively) dose level caused a simultaneous fall in testicular ${\Delta}5$-$3{\beta}$-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities which are involved in testicular steroidogenesis. Total cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in testis were increased significantly in gonads. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and ascorbic acid oxidase were reduced whereas that of carbonic anhydrase was increased significantly in the testis of MECR and MECO treated mice. All these observations indicate that the methanol extract of C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed produced antifertility activity in sexually matured male mice, which may be due to inhibition of gonadal steroidogenesis. This activity may be attributed due to the presence of flavonoids and steroids, respectively.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.469-478
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• 2012

Sex hormones have long been considered to play an important role in bone turnover rate, periodontal diseases, and wound healing. We have studied the effect of porcine testis steroid extract (PTSE), an extract of porcine testes, which holds a good ratio of 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone), testosterone, androstenedione, $17{\beta}$-estradiol, and estrone, on the healing rate of a standardized full-thickness linear wound on the back of the rat. Skin punch or carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) laser methods were used to create the deep skin injury in two groups of animals. The animals were treated with the PTSE cream, control cream and Vaseline (control) to find out the effect in re-epithelialization, contraction, and formation of granulation and scar tissues. Histological examination after 21 days showed 100, 87.4, and 80.5% recovery of epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, respectively in the PTSE-treated animals. Similarly, on the 15th day of treatment, complete healing of intact skin was observed in the PTSE cream-treated animals among the laser radiation group. Even though the beginning of re-epithelialization phase and completion of serum crust formation was also observed in the base cream- and Vaseline-treated animals respectively, the complete healing cycle was observed only in the PTSE-treated group. The white blood cell count in the PTSE-treated group showed that PTSE cream is nontoxic to animals.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.385-391
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• 2002

Panax ginseng (family- Araliaceae) is a native plant of Korea and has been used for past several years among oriental people. To evaluate the radioprotective potential of P. ginseng on the formation of giant cells in the testis of Swiss albino mice, the animals were divided into four groups: -(I)-Only vehicle was administered. (II)P. ginseng treated group: -The animals received 10 mg/kg body weight P. ginseng root extract (in DDW) i.p. continuously for 30 days. (III) Irradiated group: -The animals were exposed to 8 Gy gamma radiation at the dose rate of 1.69 Gy/min at the distance of 80 ems. (IV) Combined treatment group: -Animals were given P. ginseng extract for four days and on fourth day they were irradiated to 8 Gy gamma radiation after 30 minute of extract administration. The animals of these three groups were autopsied on day 1,3, 7, 14 and 30 days. In ginseng treated group, active spermatogenesis was observed without any toxic effect. Histopathological studies of irradiated group (II) revealed reduction in germ cell count, loss of sperms and formation of multinucleated giant cells on day 7th. These giant cells were formed by round nuclei of early or late spermatids. In combination group (III), although germinal epithelium was still disorganized with loss of cells in few tubules, but no giant cell formation was observed. In order to know the mechanism of radioprotection of ginseng, LPO and GSH were estimated. It was observed that pretreated irradiated animals showed inhibition of LPO and increase in GSH. Thus the present study suggests ginseng protects male gonads. This may be attributed to the inhibition of LPO and increase synthesis of GSH byginseng.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

Spatiotemporal expression of two isoforms of zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1), tight junctional protein, was examined in mouse testis. By RT-PCR, transcripts encoding two isoforms of ZO-1; ZO-1$\alpha$+ and ZO-1$\alpha$- were detected in testis. Two different forms of ZO-1 antigens with Mr.225 and 2001 KDa were detected in western blot of extract of neonatal to adult testis, coinciding with the result of RT-PCR. The relative amount of ZO-1 $\alpha$- versus 20-1 $\alpha$＋ increased as the mice matured. In immunostaining using the pan antibody which detected both isoforms, ZO-1 was localized in the intercellular spaces in the Sertoli cell - Sertoli cell contacts in periphery of seminiferous tubule as well as Sertoli cell - germ cells contacts within the seminiferous tubule. The expression of ZO-1 was ubiquitous in both junctional area and cytoplasm of seminiferous tubule components. However, more intense signals were found in Sertoli cell junctional areas according to sexual maturation. The changes in the relative amount of both isoforms and spatial distribution of ZO-1 at the periphery of seminiferous tubule might be important for functional appearance of blood testis barrier and spermatogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.31-38
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Morindae officinalis Radix (巴戟) on the spermatogenesis and antioxidant activities in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. Materials and Methods: We choose the 2-month-old SD rats, and administered the extract powder of Morindae officinalis Radix once in a day for 28 days. The control rats were administered normal water in the same way and duration. We observed changes of body weight, surgically isolated testis, epididymis, vascular gland and prostate gland before and after administration of Morindae officinalis Radix extracts in SD Rats. Also we compared the testicular tissue, especially seminiferous tubules between the control and treated groups by histochemical methods. In addition, we examined the total, normal, morphologic and motile sperm in the cauda epididymis, and the activity of catalase and peroxidase in the isolated testis tissue. Results: There was no significant difference between control and treatment groups in the body weight, testis, vascular and prostate gland, but the weight of epididymis showed significant difference in the control group. The concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa was significantly different when compared with the control group, respectively. In the histological examination of testicular tissues, the tendency of increasement of angiogenesis between seminiferous tubules was observed. And the concentration of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocyte and sperm were higher than that of control testicular tissues. Finally, the activity of catalase and peroxidase related inhibitory molecules of oxidation were slightly increased in the treatment group than those of control group. Conclusions: This study shows that Morindae officinalis Radix has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility. We can suggest that Morindae officinalis Radix has an effect on the spermatogenesis in the SD rat.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.482-488
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• 2011

Cadmium (Cd) is well known as a spermatotoxic and gonadotoxic heavy metal ion. This study was performed to assess the possible protective effect of Enerbalance on Cd-induced spermiotoxicity and testicular damage. The control group received isotonic saline; Cd group received Cd (2 mg/kg BW per day) orally; extract-treated groups were orally administrated with Enerbalance (50 mg and 100 mg/kg BW per day) and Cd for 10 days. Morphological changes of testicular tissue, sperm characteristics, oxidative/antioxidative parameters from testis, and serum sexual hormone level were determined. Enerbalance was significantely increased sperm amount in cauda epididymis without changes of ratio of epididymis/body weight and testis/body weight. Cd caused a marked decrease in epididymal sperm concentration and chemotactic sperm motility, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Enerbalance was significantly ameliorated loss of epididymal sperm concentration, sperm chemotactic motility, antioxidative parameters, and male hormone whereas decreased abnormal architecture by testis damage. Enerbalance was successfully attenuated these adverse effects of Cd and offers a dose-dependent protection. Our study demonstrated that Enerbalance could proffer a measure of protection against Cd-induced testicular damage and spermiotoxicity by possibly reducing oxidative stress and increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism in mice.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of Bombycis corpus on reproductive dysfunction caused by aging. Methods: The experimental group was divided into three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice without any treatment, An aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice without any treatment, and a Bombycis corpus treatment group (BC group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice with treatment Bombycis corpus extract (0.78 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After 6 months, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of the testis were performed to investigate the effects of Bombycis corpus on the reproductive dysfunction caused by aging. Results: In the first step, Bombycis corpus increased spermatogenesis and distribution of sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule, increased BrdU positive reaction in the spermatogonium at the basal part of the seminiferous tubule, and decreased the apoptosis of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule. In addition, Bombycis corpus increased AR positive in Sertoli cells and $17{\beta}-HSD$ positive in leydig cells. Finally, Bombycis corpus decreased 8-OHdG positivite reaction in the spermatids of the seminiferous lumen, caspase-3 positivity in leydig cells, and HDAC1 positivite reaction in sertoli cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that Bombycis corpus increases spermatogenesis, decreases apoptosis of leydig cells and Sertoli cells, increases the production and action of testosterone in the testis, and inhibits DNA damages and DNA transcripts decrease in the testis, Thereby improving reproductive dysfunction caused by aging.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.59-70
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• 2013

Objectives : Hyangsayangyi-tang (香砂養胃湯) is a polyherbal formula, has been used as one of the representative So-eumin (少陰人) prescriptions in Sasang-medicine (四象醫學), a famous Korean medicinal theory. The aqueous extract of Hyangsayangyi-tang (HSYYT) was evaluated for its possible ameliorative effect in the regulation of hypothyroidism related reproductive organ damages in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced rat model. Methods : HSYYT aqueous extracts were administered, once day for 42 days from 2 weeks before start of PTU treatment as an oral dose of 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg (bodyweight), and hypothyroidism was induced by daily subcutaneous treatment of PTU 10 mg/kg for 28days. Results : PTU induced hypothyroidism and related male reproductive organ (testis, epididymis and prostate) damages were favorably and dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of HSYYT 500 and 250 mg/kg, and they also effectively regulated the PTU-induced abnormal antioxidant defense system changes in the testis. No effective or any harmful changes on the PTU induced hypothyroidism and related male reproductive organ damages were observed in HSYYT 125 mg/kg treated rats as compared with PTU control in this experiment. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that oral administration of 500 and 250 mg/kg of HSYYT showed favorable effects on the hypothyroidism and related reproductive organ damages through augmentation of antioxidant defense system in the testis, and it is considered that HSYYT may be help to ameliorate the hypothyroidism and related organ damages in clinics.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.33-36
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• 1970

A study was planned to see if the ginseng has any influence upon the weight of viscera of male and female rats. One hundred and ten male rats (body weight: $35{\sim}40\;gm$ at the beginning of the experiment) and an equal number of females with similar body weight were use4 Excluding 10 male and 10 females which served as controls, these rats were divided equally into 4 groups (male ginseng group, male saline group, female ginseng group and female saline group), each of which comprising 50 animals. For 45 days, the male and female ginseng groups received every day 0.6 m1/100 gm body weight of ginseng extract solution (4 mg of ginseng alcohol extract in 1 ml of saline) subcutaneously, and the male and female saline groups received the same amount of physiological saline. Each group was further divided into 5 subgroups comprising 10 animals, and the 10 control rats and each subgroups were sacrificed immediately before, and 5, 15, 35, 35, and 45 days after beginning of the drug administration, respectively. The body weight of each subgroup was checked immediately before sacrificing it, and the heart, lung, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, spleen, and testis or uterus of each animal were weighed with a torsion balance. Following results were obtained: 1. Ginseng significantly facilitated gain in weight of testis and spleen as well as body weight of rats from 35th day after beginning of the drug administration on, but not before this time. 2. Ginseng did not exert significant influence upon the weight of heart, lung, liver, tidney, adrenal gland, and uterus of the rat.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.13-19
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was aimed to define the protective effect of Tissue Cultured Root of Wild Ginseng (CWG) against doxorubicin (Doxo) toxicity, and investigate the anti-tumor synergic effect of CWG in combination with Doxo in tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice. Methods : Tumor-bearing mice were established by single inoculation with B16/F10 melanoma cells (2$\times$10$^6$/ml) subcutaneously. Tumor-bearing mice (tumor volume between 50-100 mm$^3$) were selected and divided them into control, Doxo, and Doxo+CWG group. Mice of Doxo group were received with Doxo (4 mg/kg of B.W.) intraperitoneally at 0, 4, 8 days after starting the experiment. Mice of Doxo+CWG group were received CWG water extract during 12 days in combination with Doxo treatment. The body weight, tumor volume, tumor weight, and organ weight (heart, liver, kidney, and testis) were measured. And serum SPK, GOT and creatinine values were analysed. Results : The volume and weights of tumor masses in Doxo group were decreased significantly compared with the those of control group. And the those of Doxo+CWG group were not significantly different from the those of Doxo group. Whereas the weight of body, liver, kidney and testis in Doxo+CWG group were increased significantly compared with the those of Doxo group. The level of serum CPK and GOT in Doxo group were increased compared with the those of control group. But the value of Doxo+CWG group were decreased significantly compared with the values of Doxo group. Conclusions : These results suggest that CWG has protective effect against doxorubicin toxicity. And these effect is guessed that is caused in augmentation of vital energy.