Objective: To study the effect of Wuziyanzong treatment on the sperm quality and content of calcium ions (Ca2+) in oligoasthenospermia rats.
Methods: A model of oligoasthenospermia was induced in 50 Sprague Dawley rats by treatment with tripterygium glycosides at 30 mg/kg per day for 8 weeks. They were divided randomly into a model group, a positive group (Huangjingzanyu capsule, 3.01 g/kg), and low, medium and high dose Wuziyanzong treatment groups (2.30, 4.60, 9.20 g/kg crude drug respectively) with 10 in each group. Another 10 rats were used as a control group. The rats in the control and model groups were administered distilled water, while the rats in the remaining groups were administered Wuziyanzong for 30 d. The epididymides were removed, spermatozoa recovered and the sperm density and viability were measured. The spermatozoa were purified and the contents of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm and mitochondria were detected by flow cytometry and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively.
Results: After 8 weeks of treatment with tripterygium glycosides, the sperm density, sperm activity and the Ca2+ content of spermatozoa in the model rats were all significantly decreased compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). After 30 d treatment, the sperm density and activity improved and the Ca2+ content of sperm were increased significantly in the medium and high dose Wuziyanzong treatment groups in comparison with the model group (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The Wuziyanzong treatment increased sperm density, improved sperm viability and enhanced the content of Ca2+ in the sperm cytoplasm and mitochondria in this rat model of oligoasthenospermia.