World J Mens Health.  2017 Dec;35(3):170-177. 10.5534/wjmh.17031.

Restoration of Spermatogenesis Using a New Combined Herbal Formula of Epimedium koreanum Nakai and Angelica gigas Nakai in an Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone Agonist-Induced Rat Model of Male Infertility

• Park HJ
• Koo YK
• Park MJ
• Hwang YK
• Hwang SY
• Park NC

• KMID: 2398566
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.17031

Abstract

PURPOSE
We investigated the protective effect of a mixture of 2 herbal extracts, KH-465, which consisted of Epimedium koreanum Nakai and Angelica gigas Nakai, on spermatogenesis in a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist-induced rat model of male infertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Seventy-five 12-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, containing 15 rats each: a normal control group that received no treatment and 4 experimental groups (I, II, III, and IV) in which an LHRH agonist was administered for 4 weeks to induce spermatogenic failure. Group I received distilled water, and groups II, III, and IV received 200 mg/kg/day of KH-465, 400 mg/kg/day KH-465, and depo-testosterone for 4 weeks, respectively. Weight changes of the testis and epididymis, sperm count motility, and levels of testosterone (T), free T, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and 8-hydroxy-2"²-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were estimated.
RESULTS
Body, testis, and epididymis weight showed no significant differences among the control and experimental groups. Treatment with KH-465 increased the sperm count and motility. Serum hormone levels of T, free T, and FSH were not significantly different in the experimental groups, while the LH level was higher than in the LHRH agonist-induced control group, but not to a significant extent. Levels of SOD were higher and 8-OHdG were lower in the groups that received KH-465 than in the LHRH agonist-induced control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that KH-465 increased sperm production via reducing oxidative stress and had a positive effect in a male infertility model.

Keyword

Infertility, male; Oxidative stress; Spermatogenesis; Testosterone

MeSH Terms

Angelica*
Animals
Epididymis
Epimedium*
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone*
Humans
Infertility, Male*
Lutein*
Luteinizing Hormone
Male
Male*
Models, Animal*
Oxidative Stress
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Sperm Count
Spermatogenesis*
Spermatozoa
Superoxide Dismutase
Testis
Testosterone
Water
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Lutein
Luteinizing Hormone
Superoxide Dismutase
Testosterone
Water

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Histological analysis of seminiferous tubules from normal controls, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-induced infertility controls, LHRH-induced rats treated with testosterone, and LHRH-induced rats treated with 400 mg/kg of KH-465. Representative images of tubular cross-sections of the testis are shown. (A) Normal control group pretreatment, (B) normal control group after 8 weeks, (C) LHRH agonist-induced control group I after 4 weeks, (D) LHRH agonist-induced control group I after 8 weeks, (E) LHRH-induced group treated with 400 mg/kg of KH-465 (group III) after 8 weeks, and (F) LHRH-induced group treated with testosterone (group IV) after 8 weeks. All sections were stained with H&E (×400). The images are typical of those obtained in 5 independent experiments.

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