The effect of (R,S)-ornidazole on the fertility of male mice and the excretion and metabolism of 36Cl-(R,S)-ornidazole and 36Cl-(R,S)-alpha-chlorohydrin in male mice and rats

Therapeutic Effects of Xianlu Oral Solution on Rats with Oligoasthenozoospermia through Alleviating Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress

Idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia (iOAZS) is one of the major causes of male infertility, and the ideal therapies for iOAZS have not been established yet. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including Xianlu oral solution (XL), has been widely used as an adjunct treatment for male infertility in the clinic. However, the underlying mechanisms of XL treatment on iOAZS are still not known. Here, we found that XL treatment has therapeutic effects on ornidazole (ORN)-induced OAZS model rats through the amelioration of testis tissues spermatogenesis and the improvement of sperm concentration and motility. Moreover, XL treatment ameliorated the serum hormone levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis status, and oxidative stress status in the testis tissues of iOAZS model rats. These findings identify a potential mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of Xianlu oral solution on iOAZS, and Xianlu oral solution may be used as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for male infertility caused by iOAZS in clinical practice.

Roles of CatSper channels in the pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia and the therapeutic effects of acupuncture-like treatment on asthenozoospermia

Rationale: Idiopathic asthenozoospermia (iAZS) is one of the major causes of male infertility and has no effective therapeutic treatment. Understanding the potential mechanisms that cause it may be helpful in seeking novel targets and treatment strategies for overcoming the problem of low sperm motility in iAZS individuals.

Methods: Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) was utilized to assess the sperm motility. RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and calcium imaging analysis were performed to examine the expression and function of CatSper channels. Hyperactivation and acrosome reaction were used to evaluate the functional characteristics of epididymal sperm. In vivo fertility assay was applied to determine the fertility of rats. CatSper1 knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed to confirm the roles of CatSper channels in the pathogenesis of iAZS and the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on AZS model rats.

Results: Here, we reported a functional down-regulation of CatSper channel from CatSper1 to CatSper 4 in the sperm of both iAZS patients and ornidazole (ORN)-induced AZS model rats, and an impaired sperm function characterized by a reduction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, hyperactivation, and acrosome reaction in the epididymal sperm of AZS rats. Knockdown of CatSper1 in the testis tissues is sufficient to induce AZS in normal rats, and this action was validated by the reversal effects of CatSper1 overexpression. Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) and electroacupuncture (EA) at 2 Hz frequency improve the sperm motility via enhancing the functional expression of CatSper channels in the sperm. Gene silencing CatSper1 in the sperm abolishes the therapeutic effects of 2 Hz-EA treatment on AZS rats.

Conclusions: We conclude that a functional down-regulation of CatSper channel in the sperm may be a contributor or a downstream indicator for a portion of AZS, especially iAZS, while 2 Hz-TEAS or EA treatment has a therapeutic effect on iAZS through inducing the functional up-regulation of CatSper channels in the sperm. This study provides a novel mechanism for the pathogenesis of some AZS especially iAZS, and presents a potential therapeutic target of CatSper for iAZS treatment. Acupuncture treatment like TEAS may be used as a promising complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy for male infertility caused by iAZS in clinical practice.

Lack of antifertility properties of novel halogenated glycolytic inhibitors and the urinary excretion and metabolism of 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-D-fructofuranose in the male rat

The antifertility action of (R,S)-alpha-chlorohydrin administered orally to male rats was compared with that of several novel chlorinated compounds known to inhibit glycolysis and the kinematics of rat sperm in vitro. Oral gavage of 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-D-fructofuranose (dichlorodideoxyfructose, DCF), 1-chloro-3-hydroxypropanone, its dimethylketal and bromopyruvate did not reduce the fertility of male rats below that of controls at the equivalent antifertility dose of (R,S)-alpha-chlorohydrin (5 mg/kg/day) or higher. As anticipated for a compound cleaved to products of (S)-chirality even high doses of DCF (200 mg/kg) showed no effect on renal function. 36Cl-Labelled DCF administered orally to male rats was eliminated only slowly in the urine (16% of the ingested dose excreted in 96 h). In the first 8 h, approximately 50% of DCF was excreted unchanged, 30% was excreted as 3-chlorolactate (BCLA), the oxidation product 3-chlorolactaldehyde and 25% as Cl-. By 24 h little DCF remained and the major metabolite (70%) was BCLA and 20% Cl-. The high rate of dechlorination is most likely responsible for the low antifertility action of DCF.