Objective: To investigate the improving effect of astaxanthin (AST) on the sperm quality of rats with ornidazole (ORN)-induced oligoasthenozoospermiaand its action mechanism.
Methods: Forty adult male SD rats were equally randomized into groups A (solvent control), B (low-dose ORN ［400 mg/（kg·d）］), C (high-dose ORN ［800 mg/（kg·d）］), D (low-dose ORN ［400 mg/（kg·d）］ + AST ［20 mg/（kg·d）］), and E (high-dose ORN ［800 mg/（kg·d）］ + AST ［20 mg/（kg·d）］), all treated intragastrically for3 weeks.After treatment, the epididymal tails ononeside was taken for determination of sperm concentration and activity, and the epididymideson the other side harvested for measurement of the activities of GSH-Px, GR, CAT and SOD and the MDA contentin the homogenate.
Results: Compared with group A, sperm motilityin the epididymal tail andGSH-Px and SOD activities in theepididymiswere markedly decreased while the MDAcontent significantlyincreased in group B (P<0.05), spermmotility and concentrationin the epididymal tail, testisindex, and the activities of GSH-Px, GR, CAT and SOD in the epididymis were remarkably reduced while theMDA contentsignificantly increased in group C(P<0.05). In comparison with group B, group D showed markedly increased sperm motility (［45.3±8.7］% vs ［66.3±8.9］%, P<0.05) in the epididymal tail and SOD activity in the epididymis (［116.7±25.3］ U/mg prot vs ［146.1±23.8］ U/mg prot, P<0.05), decreased MDA content(［1.68±0.45］ nmol/mg prot vs ［1.19±0.42］ nmol/mg prot, P<0.05).Compared with group C, group Eexhibited significant increases in the weight gained (［89.0±9.5］ vs ［99.9±4.1］ %, P<0.05) and sperm motility (［17.9±3.5］% vs ［27.3±5.3］ %, P<0.05) but a decrease in the content of MDA (［2.03±0.30］ nmol/mg prot vs ［1.52±0.41］ nmol/mg prot, P<0.05).
Conclusions: AST can improve spermquality in rats with ORN-inducedoligoasthenozoospermia, which may be associated with its enhancing effect on the antioxidant capacity of the epididymis.
目的： 探讨虾青素（AST）对奥硝唑（ORN）致少弱精子症大鼠精子质量的改善作用及其机制。方法： 40只成年雄性SD大鼠，随机分成5组，每组8只。分别为A组（溶剂对照组）:0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠溶剂+1 ml玉米油、B组（ORN低剂量造模组）：ORN 400 mg/（kg·d）、C组（ORN高剂量造模组）：ORN 800 mg/（kg·d）、D组（ORN低剂量造模+AST治疗组）：ORN 400 mg/（kg·d）+ AST 20 mg/（kg·d）、E组（ORN高剂量造模+AST治疗组）：ORN 800 mg/（kg·d）+ AST 20 mg/（kg·d），灌胃3周后水合氯醛腹腔麻醉大鼠；取1侧附睾尾部检测精子浓度和活力，另1侧附睾组织匀浆，检测谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）、谷胱甘肽还原酶（GR）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性及丙二醛（MDA)含量。结果： 与A组相比，B组附睾尾精子活力，附睾GSH-Px、SOD活性显著降低，MDA含量显著上升（P﹤0.05）；C组附睾尾精子活力、浓度、睾丸系数，附睾组织GSH-Px、GR、CAT、SOD活性均显著降低，而MDA含量显著上升（P﹤0.05）。AST治疗组：与B组相比，D组附睾尾精子活力和附睾组织SOD活性显著增加［（45.3±8.7）% vs （66.3±8.9）%；（116.7±25.3）U/mg prot vs (146.1±23.8) U/mg prot，P﹤0.05］，而MDA含量显著下降［（1.68±0.45）nmol/mg prot vs (1.19±0.42) nmol/mg prot，P﹤0.05］;与C组相比，E组实验后体重增量、精子活力显著增加，而MDA含量显著下降［（89.0±9.5）% vs (99.9±4.1)%；(17.9±3.5)% vs (27.3±5.3)%；(2.03±0.30) nmol/mg prot vs (1.52±0.41) nmol/mg prot，P﹤0.05］。结论： AST可提高ORN致大鼠少弱精子症模型的精子质量，其机制可能是提高了大鼠附睾的抗氧化能力。.
Keywords: SD rat; antioxidant; astaxanthin; oligoasthenozoospermia; ornidazole; oxidative damage.