Yangjing capsule improves oligoasthenozoospermia by promoting nitric oxide production through PLCγ1/AKT/eNOS pathway

Background: Oligoasthenozoospermia is an important factor leading to male infertility. Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese preparation, displays beneficial effects on male infertility. However, whether YC could improve oligoasthenozoospermia remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of YC in the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 800 mg/kg ornidazole once daily for 30 days to induce in vivo oligoasthenozoospermia; primary Sertoli cells were treated with 400 mu g/mL ornidazole for 24 h to induce in vitro oligoasthenozoospermia. Results: We found that YC improved the testicle and epididymis weight, sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, serum testosterone, fertility rate and testis morphology in ornidazole-exposed rats and enhanced cell survival in ornidazole-stimulated primary Sertoli cells. YC also inhibited the ornidazole-caused decrease in nitric oxide (NO) generation and the phosphorylation of phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLC gamma 1), AKT, and eNOS in vivo and in vitro in oligoasthenozoospermia. Furthermore, the knockdown of PLC gamma 1 blunted the beneficial effects of YC in vitro. Conclusion: Collectively, our data suggested that YC protected against oligoasthenozoospermia by promoting NO levels through the PLC gamma 1/AKT/eNOS pathway.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Yangjing capsule (YC) on oligoasthenozoospermia. The results showed that YC improved the sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, testicle and epididymis weight, fertility rate, and testis morphology in oligoasthenozoospermia. YC also promoted NO levels through the PLC gamma 1/AKT/eNOS pathway.