Tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics analyses of the spermatogenesis-ameliorating effect of Youjing granule on rats.

RATIONALE: Male infertility is a common reproductive system disease manifested as aberrant spermatogenesis and identified as "kidney deficiency and dampness" in Chinese traditional medicine. Youjing granule (YG) is a Chinese material medica based on tonifying kidneys and removing dampness. It has proven to be able to regulate semen quality in clinical application, but the underlying mechanism has not been clarified. METHODS: Using serum containing YG to treat primarily cultured spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), the apoptotic rate and mitosis phase ratio of SSCs were measured. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with tandem mass tags method was applied for analyzing the serum of rats treated with YG/distilled water, and proteomic analyses were performed to clarify the mechanisms of YG. RESULTS: Totally, 111 proteins in YG-treated serum samples were differentially expressed compared with control groups, and 43 of them were identified as potential target proteins, which were further annotated based on their enrichment in Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Proteomic analyses showed that the mechanisms of YG may involve regulation of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling pathway. In addition, RhoA and Lamp2 were found to be possible responders of YG through reviewing the literature. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that our serum proteomics platform is clinically useful in understanding the mechanisms of YG.

Safety and efficacy of acupuncture for varicocele-induced male infertility: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Varicocele (VC) is a common clinical disease in andrology. Among a number of ways for VC treatment, surgery is the most common one, but the measurable benefit of surgical repair was slight. A growing exploration of complementary therapies has been conducted in clinical research on acupuncture for VC, but there is no relevant systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for VC. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: All relevant publications published from database inception through August 2022 will be searched in three English-language databases (Embase, CENTRAL, MEDLINE) and four Chinese-language databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wanfang Data). Randomised controlled trials in English and Chinese concerned with acupuncture for patients with VC will be included. The input clinical data will be processed by the Review Manager software (RevMan). The literature will be appraised with the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE system) will be used to evaluate the quality of evidence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is a secondary study based on clinical studies so it does not relate to any individual patient information or infringe the rights of participants. Hence no ethical approval is required. The results will be reported in peer-reviewed journals or disseminated at relevant conferences. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022316005.

Youjing granules ameliorate spermatogenesis in rats through regulating the prolifereation of spermatogonial stem cells.

Male infertility has evolved from a common reproductive system disease to a major social issue. Youjing granule (YG) is a Chinese medicinal material used as a therapy method for tonifying the kidneys and removing dampness due to its pathogenic characteristics. YG has been shown to regulate sperm quality in clinical trials, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The present study was aimed to explore the protective effects and mechanism of action of YG on male reproductive system damage caused by methyl methane sulfonate (MMS). We first established an infertility model of rats through oral administration of MMS and then treated with YG. To determine the effect of YG, spermatogenesis, microvascular density, and secretory function of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells in rats were assessed. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were co-cultured with mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells as an in vitro cell model before exposure to serum containing YG. Furthermore, the proliferation and apoptosis of SSCs were measured. Results indicated that YG increased the expression of self-renewal and proliferation-related molecules such as glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), and improved the quality of sperm and the proliferation of SSCs. In conclusion, YG may protect spermatogenetic function of rats through regulating the proliferation and self-renewal of SSCs.

[Bushen Daozhuo Granules for type â ¢ prostatitis: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of Bushen Daozhuo Granules (BDG) in the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial included 478 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis, 290 in the trial group and 188 as controls, the former treated with BDG at 200 ml bid and the latter with tamsulosin hydrochloride sustainedrelease capsules at 0.2 mg qd, both for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 4 weeks of medication, and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal, we obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIHCPSI) scores and compared the safety and effectiveness rate between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline, the NIHCPSI score was markedly decreased in the control group after 4 weeks of medication (21.42 ± 4.02 vs 15.67 ± 3.65, P < 0.05) but showed no statistically significant difference from that at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (19.03 ± 3.86) (P>0.05), while the NIHCPSI score in the trial group was remarkably lower than the baseline both after 4 weeks of medication and at 4 weeks after drug withdrawal (10.92 ± 2.06 and 12.91 ± 2.64 vs 21.58 ± 3.67, P < 0.05). The trial group exhibited both a higher rate of total effectiveness and safety than the control (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BDG is safe and effective for the treatment of type Ⅲ prostatitis.

The Stimulative Effect of Yangjing Capsule on Testosterone Synthesis through Nur77 Pathway in Leydig Cells.

Yangjing Capsule (YC), an innovative Chinese medicine based on traditional prescription, promotes testosterone synthesis by upregulating the expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Nur77 as a nuclear receptor is known to regulate the expression of many steroid synthetases. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms by which YC regulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were employed to assess the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and Nur77 after treating MLTC-1 cells with YC. The luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to detect the activity of Nur77 gene promoter. Also, the expressions of steroid synthases were detected after Nur77 gene was knocked down. YC significantly stimulated Nur77 production and upregulated StAR and HSD3B expression, and this agrees with the activity of Nur77 gene promoter that was significantly enhanced by YC. Interestingly, knockdown of Nur77 blocked the above YC's effects and consequently inhibited testosterone synthesis in MLTC-1 cells. YC promotes StAR and HSD3B expression and upregulates testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, which is mediated by Nur77 pathway.