Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of apocynin on oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS) and its action mechanisms in mice.
Methods: Forty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups of equal number, blank control, OAS model, low-dose apocynin, and high-dose apocynin. OAS models were made in the latter three groups of mice by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide for five days. The animals in the blank control, OAS model, low-dose apocynin, and high-dose apocynin groups were given drinking water (［5.1±0.4］ ml daily) containing 0, 0, 200, and 1 000 μg/ml apocynin, respectively, for 30 days. Then all the mice were sacrificed for observation of pathological changes of the testicular tissue, examination of sperm quality, and measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the testis.
Results: Apocynin treatment raised sperm concentration from (2.94±0.57)×10⁶/ml in the OAS models to (3.88±0.43) and (4.12±0.53)×10⁶/ml in the low- and high-dose apocynin groups and elevated the percentage of progressively motile sperm from (6.25±3.40)% in the OAS models to (8.03±6.71) and (17.50±2.74)% in the low- and high-dose apocynin groups, respectively (P<0.05). The MDA level in the testicular tissue was decreased from (1.34±0.22) nmol/mg prot in the OAS models to (1.13±0.19) and (0.98±0.19) nmol/mg prot in the low- and high-dose apocynin groups (P<0.05), and the SOD level increased from (26.46±4.36) U/mg prot to (32.46±3.28) and (37.39±5.77) U/mg prot, respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Apocynin can significantly improve sperm quality of oligoasthenozoospermia mice by eliminating reactive oxygen free radicals and improving antioxidant activity of the body. And it can be applied in the prevention and treatment of male infertility.
目的： 探讨罗布麻宁在少弱精子症模型小鼠中的治疗作用及其治疗机制。 方法： 40只雄性小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、罗布麻宁低剂量治疗组（200 μg/ml）和高剂量治疗组（1 000 μg/ml），每组10只。除空白组外的各组小鼠腹腔注射环磷酰胺60 mg/（kg·d），连续5 d，构建少弱精子症小鼠模型；罗布麻宁低、高剂量治疗组小鼠给予不同浓度罗布麻宁饮用水，空白组和模型组给予等量洁净水，每只小鼠饮水量（5.1±0.4） ml/d，给予30 d的治疗后，检测小鼠精子质量、睾丸组织病理改变以及丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量变化。 结果： 罗布麻宁治疗后，少弱精子症小鼠的精子浓度由模型组的（2.94±0.57）×10⁶/ml升高到低剂量治疗组的（3.88±0.43）×10⁶/ml和高剂量治疗组的（4.12±0.53）×10⁶/ml，前向运动精子百分率由模型组的（6.25±3.40）%升高到低剂量治疗组的（8.03±6.71）%和高剂量治疗组的（17.50±2.74）%；病理分析发现治疗组小鼠的睾丸组织损伤有所恢复，小鼠睾丸组织中的MDA水平由模型组的（1.34±0.22） nmol/mg prot分别降低到罗布麻宁低剂量治疗组的（1.13±0.19） nmol/mg prot和高剂量组的（0.98±0.19）nmol/mg prot，SOD水平由模型组的（26.46±4.36） U/mg prot提高到罗布麻宁低剂量治疗组的（32.46±3.28） U/mg prot和高剂量组的（37.39±5.77） U/mg prot，且差异显著（P均<0.05）。 结论： 罗布麻宁可以显著提高少弱精子症小鼠的精子质量，可能是通过清除活性氧自由基，提高机体抗氧化能力实现的。罗布麻宁可用于男性不育的治疗和预防。.
Keywords: apocynin; male infertility; mouse; oligoasthenozoospermia; reactive oxygen species; sperm quality.