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Objective　To investigate blood-testis barrier injury in C57BL/6J mice induced by one-time total-body irradiation (TBI) with 6 Gy 60Co γ ray, and the ability of Yiqi Jiedu decoction to protect against this injury. Methods 　Eighty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the following groups according to body mass: blank group, model group, anduolin group (0. 54 g/ kg), and Yiqi Jiedu decoction group (16. 58 g/ kg), with 20 mice per group. After a 10-day pretreatment, the mice (except the blank group) were given one-time TBI with 6 Gy 60Co γ ray, following which, treatment was administered from the 4th day to 11th day after radiation. The mice were sacrificed separately on the 2nd day and 12th day after radiation. The testis and epididymis were weighed, and their pathological changes were examined using HE staining. Additionally, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium were measured. In addition, the serum inhibin B (INH B) was detected using ELISA, and the expressions of claudin-11 and occludin in the testis were determined using Western blotting. Results　Compared with the blank group, the weight of the testis and epididymis in the model group, anduolin group, and Yiqi Jiedu decoction group did not change significantly on the 2nd day after the TBI, yet all decreased on the 12th day after TBI (P < 0. 01). The testis and epididymis in the model group showed pathological damages on the 2nd day that were aggravated on the 12th day, while the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and thickness of the seminiferous epithelium were decreased compared with those of the blank group at both time points (P<0. 01). The pathological damages to the testis and epididymis in the Yiqi Jiedu decoction group were both improved when compared with those of the model group, and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and thickness of the seminiferous epithelium increased compared with the model group at both time points(P<0. 01) . On the 12th day after TBI, the INH B level in the model group was lower than that in the blank group (P < 0. 05), while that in the Yiqi Jiedu decoction group was increased compared with the model group (P < 0. 01). At both time points, the expressions of claudin-11 and occludin in the model group was decreased compared with that in the blank group (P<0. 05, P<0. 01), while the expressions of claudin-11 and occludin in the Yiqi Jiedu decoction group increased significantly compared with the model group (P<0. 01). Conclusion　One-time TBI with 6 Gy 60Co γ ray induced significant damage to the blood-testis barrier of male C57BL/6J mice, while the Yiqi Jiedu decoction effectively alleviated this damage and promoted the recovery of spermatogenic function with a certain protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the pharmacological mechanism of Wuzi Yanzong Pill in the treatment of male spermatogenic dysfunction by network pharmacology in rat sertoli cells. Methods Targets of anti-spermatogenic dysfunction in Wuzi Yanzong Pill were screened and the biological function and signal pathway were analyzed by online database. The heat stress model was constructed with rat sertoli cells to detect changes in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of Hsp70. Results The results of network pharmacology showed that Wuzi Yanzong Pill mainly improved male spermatogenesis dysfunction by regulating ROS level and extracellular stimulus response etc. The ROS fluorescence probe results showed that，compared with the blank group，the ROS production was significantly increased in the model group，and significantly decreased in the Wuzi Yanzong Pill group. Western blot results showed that the expression of Hsp70 in Wuzi Yanzong Pill group was higher than that in the blank group and lower than that in the model group. Conclusion Wuzi Yanzong Pill seems to protect rat sertoli cells under heat stress by reducing ROS production and Hsp70 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To discuss the effect and mechanism of Wuzi Yanzong Wan (Five Seeds for Multiplying Pills) in the proliferation of Sertoli cells in infant rats. Methods The Sertoli cells were separated from male SD rats (20 d old) and cultured, and then randomly divided into normal group, low-dose Wuzi Yanzong Wan group (5 g/L, low-dose group), mid-dose Wuzi Yanzong Wan group (10 g/L, mid-dose group) and high-dose Wuzi Yanzong Wan group (15 g/L, high-dose group). The changes of optical density (OD) of Sertoli cells were detected by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium test (MTT) in all groups. The expression of Ki67 positive granules in Sertoli cells were detected by using immunohistochemistry technique in all groups. The expressions of Akt and p-Akt in Sertoli cells were detected by using Western blot method. Results Compared with normal group, the proliferation of Sertoli cells treated with Wuzi Yanzong Wan was promoted significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of Ki67 positive granules increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and relative expression of p-Akt increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Wuzi Yanzong Wan can possibly promote the proliferation of Sertoli cells in infant rats through activating Akt signal transduction pathway and up-regulating p-Akt expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the mechanism of Wuzi Yanzong Wan (Five-Seed Progeny Pill) on im­proving heat stress resistance of Sertoli cells in rats based on data from the whole genome microarray. Methods Sertoli cells in primary culture were randomly divided into Wuzi Yanzong Wan (WZYZW) group, normal group and model group. The cells in three groups were given WZYZW solution and equal volume of PBS respectively. After 24 hours, rats in WZYZW group and model group were placed in water bath at 43 °C for 15 minutes, while rats in normal group were put in water bath at 37 °C for 15 minutes, then total RNA of three groups were extracted respectively and data was analyzed with gene chip technolo­gy. Results Compared with the model group, there were totally 1,203 differently genes in WZYZW group based on Sertoli cell gene expression profiles, in which 697 were down regulated and 506 were up-regulated. There were totally 473 differently expressed genes in the normal group, including 168 up-regu-later! genes and 305 down regulated genes. Among these down-regulated gene expressions. RGD1305298. Trptl, D113, Abi3 and Ppplrl2b were significant in the WZYZW group and norma! group, while Dusp7 was significant among up-regulated gene expressions. The genes mentioned above were related to cell cycle, apoptosis, cell metabolism, cell adhesion and Notch signal pathway, regula­tion of act in cytoskeleton, MAPK signaling pathway and tight junction pathway, etc. Conclusion The mechanism of Wuzi Yanzong pill in improving heat stress resistance of Sertoli cells may involve mainte­nance of tight junctions between Sertoli cells, inhibition of Sertoli cells apoptosis and promotion of cell dif­ferentiation and maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]