[Bazi Granules improves sperm quality in rats with oligoasthenozoospermia induced by multi-glycosides of tripterygium wilfordii]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Bazi Granules on sperm quality in male rats with oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS) induced by multi-glycosides of tripterygium wilfordii (GTW).

Methods: Thirty-six SD male rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number: normal control, OAS model control, Wuziyanzong Pills (WYP), and low-, medium- and high-dose Bazi. The OAS model was established in the rats except those of the normal control group by intragastrical delivery of GTW at 30 mg/kg/d for 40 days. From the 41st day, the animals of the normal and OAS model control groups were fed with distilled water, those of the WYP group treated by gavage with WYP at 1.02 g/kg/d, and those of the low-, medium- and high-dose Bazi groups intragastically given Bazi Granules 3 (5.27 g/kg), 6 (10.54 g/kg) and 12 (21.08 g/kg) times, respectively, that of the human-equivalent dose. Semen parameters and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the testis tissue were determined after 28 days of treatment.

Results: After treatment, the rats of the of the high-, medium- and low-dose Bazi groups, compared with the OAS model controls, showed significant increases in sperm concentration (［1 050.71 ± 203.71］, ［1 370.06 ± 166.01］ and ［1 302.53 ± 476.51］ vs ［617.01 ± 237.08］ ×10⁶/ml, P < 0.05), sperm motility (［0.56 ± 0.24］%, ［0.73 ± 0.14］% and ［0.70 ± 0.23］% vs ［0.07 ± 0.05］%, P < 0.05), sperm average path velocity (［85.71 ± 30.35］, ［83.83 ± 10.31］ and ［75.06 ± 19.70］ vs ［43.45 ± 38.74］ μm/s, P < 0.05), sperm curvilinear velocity (［101.76 ± 23.28］, ［119.60 ± 21.22］ and ［102.11 ± 32.89］ vs ［53.63 ± 47.91］ μm/s, P < 0.05), sperm straight line velocity (［62.75 ± 7.63］, ［67.80 ± 5.05］ and ［64.11 ± 12.03］ vs ［40.18 ± 36.86］ μm/s, P < 0.05), and the SOD level (［380.23 ± 75.07］, ［349.53 ± 97.48］ and ［415.07 ± 72.01］ vs ［304.62 ± 27.17］ U/mg, P < 0.05), but a remarkable decrease in the MDA level (［0.33 ± 0.16］, ［0.22 ± 0.05］ and ［0.34 ± 0.22］ vs ［0.73 ± 0.20］ nmol/mg, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Bazi Granules can significantly improve the sperm quality of OAS rats, which may be related to its abilities of repairing oxidative stress injury and enhancing oxidation resistance.