Qiangjing Capsule Impact On Microenvironment Regulation Of Sperm Maturation In Epididymis Of Varicocele Rats

Objectives:To explore the possible pathological mechanisms of male infertility induced by varicocele based on the fact that epididymis can regulate and control the micro-environment of making sperm mature. To observe the effect of qiangjing capsule whoes function is tonifying kieney and promote blood circulation on the micro-environment of sperm in epididymis and to explore the possible mechanism in treating male infertility induced by varicocele. To provide valuable theoretical evidence for further clinical research and applications.Methods:A total of 10 adolescent male SD rats were selected randomly form 100 ones as the sham-operated group and the rest 90 as model group. We made model varicocele rats via narrowing the left renal vein and evaluated the models 4 weeks later. All the 90 model rats were assigned to 4 subcategories randomly namely blank group, promoting blood circulation group (treated by Shaofuzhuyu capsule), tonifying kidney group (treated by Wuzi Yanzong capsule), tonifying kidney and Promoting blood circulation group (treated by qiangjing Capsule and high, medium and low-dose 3 subgroups were contained in this group). The treatment course was 4 weeks. Cut of neck and killed rats in each group 4 weeks later and detected the spermic motility and density in the tail of left side epididymis. Analysed these expressions in each group, such as the organizational structure of left side epididymis, L-carnitine, a-glucosidase, MDA, GPx, hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-la, iNOS and DHT with light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and other experimental techniques and methods combined with image analysis graphics system.Results:(1)Compared model group with the sham-operated group the left side spermatic vain was thicker and the kidney was no atrophy almost in the model group. (2)Compared with the sham-operated group, the model rats'organizational structure of the left epididymis had an obvious histopathological changes.(3)Compared with the sham-operated group there were significant statistic differences in the spermic motility and density, L-carnitine, a-glucosidase, MDA, GPx, HIF-la, iNOS and DHT (P< 0.01). (4)Compared with the sham-operated group the damaged tissue of epididymis could be repaired but in differert levels in these groups that tonifying kidney group, promoting blood circulation group, the high and medium subgroups in tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation group. There were statistic differernt in the expression of the spermic motility and density, MDA, GPx, HIF-1α, iNOS and DHT (P<0.01, or P<0.05).(5)ompared with the hige dosage subgroup in tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation group there were statistic differences among groups in the spermic motility and density, MDA, GPx, HIF-1α, iNOS and DHT(P<0.01, or P<0.05).Conclusions:(1)The varicocele model rat in this try was almost consistent with experimental requirements and characters of varicocele. It is an ideal model to research varicocele. (2)The density and motoricity of sperm in epididymis can be reduced beacause of varicocele. (3)The epididymal structure and function can be damaged due to aricocele. (4) The expressions of L-carnitine,α-glucosidase, GPx, DHT in epididymis can be reduced obviously beacause of varicocele and these expressions are opposite such as MDA, HIF-la and iNOS. (5) The above factors may cause the disorder of epididymal microenvironment furthermore lead to the dysfunction of spermic maturation in epididymal and degrade fertility and become the pathological base of male infertility induced by varicocele. (6)Wuziyanzong capsule (whose function is Tonifying kidney) Shaofuzhuyu capsule (whose function is promoting blood circulation) and qiangjing capsule (whose function is tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation)can improve spermatic quality in epididymis, ameliorate the epididymal structure, increase the expressions of L-carnitine, a-glucosidase, GPx and DHT, and reduce the expressions of MDA, HIF-1αand iNOS but in different levels. (7)Qiangjing capsule(whose function is tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation) may improve the epididymal microenvironment, enhance spermic maturation in epididymis and fertility via above mechanism. (8)Qiangjing capsule(whose function is tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation) are dose-dependent to some extent. (9)Qiangjing capsule is superior to shaofuzhuyu capsule and wuziyanzong capsule. Beacause qiangjing capsule has two functions of tonifying kidney and promoting blood circulation but Shaofuzhuyu capsule and wuzi yanzong capsule only has one of the two functions respectively.