[Xianfang Huoming Decoction improves sperm quality in asthenospermia mice: An investigation based on the detoxification and sperm-nourishing method].

To investigate the mechanism of Xianfang Huoming Decoction (XHD) improving sperm motility in mice with asthenospermia (AS). Thirty normal BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups, blank control, AS model control, low-dose XHD, medium-dose XHD, high-dose XHD and levocarnitine + vitamin E (LC+VE). The AS model was established in the latter five groups by injection of methotrexate at 0.5 mg/kg once a week, and the mice in the blank control group were injected with the same volume of normal saline, all for 8 weeks. From the ninth week, the animals in the blank control and AS model control groups were treated with PBS at 0.1 ml/d, those in the low-, medium- and high-dose XHD groups with XHD at 7.13, 14,2 and 28.52 g/kg/ d respectively, and those in the LC+VE group with LC+VE (30:1) at 0.55 g/kg/d, all for 4 weeks. Then, the bilateral epididymides were harvested from all the mice for preparation of a sperm suspension and observation of the total numbers of sperm and motile sperm. The testis tissues were obtained for to determination of the expressions of Nrf-2- and HO-1-related mRNA and proteins by fluorescence staining, RT-PCR and Western blot. Compared with the AS model controls, the mice treated with low-, medium- and high-dose XHD showed dramatically increased sperm concentration (［22.36 ± 16.02］ vs ［39.04 ± 4.50］, ［40.76 ± 6.57］ and ［41.04 ± 8.39］ ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.01) and motility (［22.89 ± 14.96］% vs ［47.98 ± 4.74］%, ［48.53 ± 6.03］% and ［49.31 ± 6.24］%, P< 0.01), decreased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (［16.82 ± 14.96］% vs ［12.08 ± 3.26］%, ［10.77 ± 2.21］% and ［9.56 ± 2.08］%, P< 0.01), and up-regulated expressions of Nrf-2- and HO-1-related mRNA and proteins in the testis tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Xianfang Huoming Decoction inhibits the development of oxidative stress by up-regulating the expressions of Nrf-2- and HO-1-related mRNA and proteins in the testis tissue, which has provided theoretical evidence for its clinical application in the treatment of asthenospermia.