ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the effects of cynomorium songaricum (CS) decoction on the testis weight, serum testosterone level, and sperm parameters of rats with oligoasthenospermia (OAS), explore its action mechanism of improving the proliferation of undifferentiated spermatogonial cells, and provide some experimental and theoretical evidence for the development of new Chinese drugs for OAS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number: blank control, model control, high-dose CS, medium-dose CS, and low-dose CS. OAS models were established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide and, a month later, treated intragastrically with normal saline or CS at 2, 1, and 0.5 g per kg of the body weight per day, all for 4 weeks. Then, the testes of the animals were harvested to obtain the testicular weight, sperm concentration and motility, and the level of serum testosterone (T), detect the expressions of the transcription factor 1 (Oct4), Thy-1 cell surface antigen (Thy1), promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF), KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (C-kit) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the testis tissue of the rats in the low-dose CS group by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The testis weights in the blank control, model control, high-dose CS, medium-dose CS, and low-dose CS groups were (1.52±0.06), (1.55±0.06), (1.43±0.30), (1.35±0.40) and (1.34±0.04) g, respectively, not significantly different in the blank and model controls from those in the CS groups (P>0.05). The visual field sperm count per 10 HP was significantly increased in the high-, medium-, and low-dose CS groups (202±20, 196±5 and 216±25) as compared with the blank and model controls (200±15 and 134±30) (P<0.05). The mRNA expressions of the Oct4, Thy1, PLZF and GDNF genes were remarkably higher in the low-dose CS group than in the controls (P<0.05), but that of the C-kit gene showed no significant difference from the latter (P>0.05). The visual field sperm motility per 10 HP was markedly increased in the blank control (［52.1±5.5］%), model control (［38.1±2.5］%), high-dose CS (［59.1±9.5］%), medium-dose CS (［58.7±9.5］%), and low-dose CS (［49.6±1.0］%) groups, and so was the level of serum testosterone (［190±87.5］, ［82.5±25.8］, ［229±75.6］, ［331±86.7］ and ［185±82.4］ mmol/L), both remarkably higher in the CS groups than in the model controls (P<0.05) but with no statistically significant difference between the CS groups and the blank controls (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CS can significantly improve sperm concentration, sperm motility and serum T level in OAS rats, probably by inducing the expression of GDNF in the rat Sertoli cells, promoting the proliferation of undifferentiated spermatogonial cells, and enhancing spermatogenesis.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of elective microscopic resection of dorsal penile nerves in the treatment of primary premature ejaculation (PPE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-eight PPE patients received elective microscopic resection of dorsal penile nerves, 5 branches in 9 cases, 6 in 17, 7 in 15, 8 in 14, 9 in 8, 10 in 6, 11 in 6, and 12 in 3. The patients were followed up for 12 months, and their intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and sexual intercourse satisfaction scores were recorded before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the baseline, the IELT was significantly prolonged after surgery ([0.86 +/- 0.32] vs [6.65 +/- 3.9] min, P < 0.01), and the sexual intercourse satisfaction scores of the patients were dramatically increased (7.32 +/- 2.52 vs 12.32 +/- 3.76, P < 0.01), so were those of their sexual partners (4.46 +/- 1.36 vs 12.73 +/- 1.45, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Elective microscopic resection of dorsal penile nerves is safe and effective for the treatment of PPE.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Coitus , Patient Satisfaction , Penis , Premature Ejaculation , General Surgery , Pudendal Nerve , General SurgeryABSTRACT
Objective: To study the influence of chitosan on proliferation of bladder epithelial cells, so as to discuss its feasibility in treatment of interstitial cystitis. Methods: Bladder epithelial cells were harvested by enzymatic digestion of the epithelium of New-Zealand rabbit bladder. The cells were cultured in different concentrations of chitosan(0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 4.8 g/L) for 72 h; untreated cells served as control. The growth and proliferation of cells were observed under microscope. The effects of chitosan on proliferation of cells were studied by NAG assay and cell counting. Results: Immunohistochemistry staining revealed that the cultured cells were epithelial cells. Chitosan (>0.3 g/L) promoted the growth of epithelial cells, and the promoting effect was significantly when the concentration of chitosan was 1.2 g/L (P<0.01). The promoting effects were decreased when the concentrations of chitosan were 2.4 and 4.8 g/L, but were still higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Chitosan can promote the growth of the bladder epithelial cell in vitro, which might contribute to the treatment of interstitial cystitis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study chitosan's improving proliferation effect to the bladder epithelial cells,thus providing experlimental foundation for the treatment of interstitial cystitis.Methods Bladder epithelial cells were harested by the enzymatic digestion of the epithelium exposed by the eversion of reseeted New-Zealand hare's bladder.The cells were cultured in different concentrations(0.3、0.6、1.2、2.4、4.8 g/L)of chitosan group and control group,after 72 h,observing their growth and proliferation with optical microscopy;The effects of chitosan on proliferation of rabbit bladder epithelial cells were studied by NAG assay.EGFR mRNA was measured by PT-PCR.Results The growth of cells in the sample added chitosan is much better than that of in the control group.Chitosan could promote the proliferation of bladder epithelial cells at higher than 0.3 g/L of concentration in a dose dependent way.The optimum concentration to increase proliferation of eonjunctival epithelial cells was 1.2 g/L.The proliferative effect of EGFR mRNA increased with the elevated chitosan concentration after 72 h.Conclusions Chitosan can promote the growth of the bladder epithelial eell,which can provides a valuable evidence for further studies of interstitial cystitis's treatment.This proliferation effect is perhaps related to chitosan's promoting EGFR combinating specificity with EGFR.