Prescription Medicine - Wuziyanzong Pill On Kidney Deficiency Syndrome Sertoli Cell Secretory Function Of Influence

Objective To evaluate the effects of the Chinese herbal formula Wuziyanzong pill(WP) on spermatogenesis and specific secretory functions of sertoli cells in a rat model and to investigate the underlying mechanism. Methods25male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into5groups (n=5per group).They were treated daily with vehicle, multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f (GTW alone (20mg/kg)) or GTW followed by WP (0.5,1.0, or2.0g/kg every day) for30days. Serum level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B (INHB) and testosterone (T) was evaluated using ELISA. Androgen binding protein (ABP) gene and transferrin (TF) protein expression in the testis tissue specimens of all animals were harvested using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis respectively. Histopathological alterations of testis were determined using by Johnsen’s score.Results Rats in the model group exhibited increased serum FSH concentrations and decreased INHB and T concentrations compared with those in the control group (P<0.01, Table1). The serum FSH concentration decreased and the INHB and T concentrations increased greatly in the high-dose and medium-dose WYP groups compared with the model group (P<0.05or P<0.01). However, the concentrations of FSH, INHB and T in the low-dose group were not statistically significantly different (P>0.05). The mRNA levels of ABP were upregulated markedly in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.05). The high-dose WYP significantly downregulated the GTW-induced upregulated expression of ABP (P<0.05). But there was no significant change in medium-dose and low-dose WYP groups. Decreased TF protein levels were observed in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01). The TF protein levels were increased significantly in the-high dose WYP group compared with the model group (P<0.01), but no significant changes in the medium-dose and low-dose WYP groups. Testicular tissues in the control group showed a normal arrangement of germinal and Sertoli cells without any histopathological lesions. The model group showed moderate to severe testicular atrophy with severe cellular disorganization and degeneration in seminiferous tubules, interstitium and Sertoli cells. Johnsen’s score was lower in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01). In the high-dose and medium-dose WYP groups, the Johnsen’s scores were significantly increased compared with the model group (P<0.01), but this was not the case in the low-dose WYP group (P>0.05).Conclusions this study provides evidence that the protective effects of WYP on spermatogenesis may partly result from its ability to restore the levels of ABP, INHB and TF, the biomarker protein of Sertoli cells, in the testicular tissues. However, because of the complicated mechanisms of this Chinese herbal medicine, the detailed mechanism by which WYP effects spermatogenesis requires further study.