Krachaidum (KD, Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex. Baker), a native plant of Southeast Asia, is traditionally used to enhance male sexual function. However, only few scientific data in support of this anecdote have been reported. The present study investigated the effects offeeding three different extracts of KD (alcohol, hexane, and water extracts) for 3-5 weeks on the reproductive organs, the aphrodisiac activity, fertility, sperm motility, and blood flow to the testis of male rats. Sexual performances (mount latency, mount frequency, ejaculatory latency, postejaculatory latency) and sperm motility were assessed by a video camera and computer-assisted sperm analysis respectively, while blood flow to the testis was measured by a directional pulsed Doppler flowmeter. The results showed that all extracts of KD had virtually no effect on the reproductive organ weights even after 5 weeks. However, administration of the alcohol extract at a dose of 70 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day for 4 weeks significantly decreased mount and ejaculatory latencies when compared with the control. By contrast, hexane and water extracts had no influence on any sexual behavior parameters. All types of extracts of KD had no effect on fertility or sperm motility. On the other hand, alcohol extract produced a significant increase in blood flow to the testis without affecting the heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure. In a separate study, an acute effect of alcohol extract of KD on blood flow to the testis was investigated. Intravenous injection of KD at doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg BW caused dose-dependent increases in blood flow to the testis. The results indicate that alcohol extract of KD had an aphrodisiac activity probably via a marked increase in blood flow to the testis.

We used microspectrofluorimetry with the pH‐sensitive fluoroprobe 2′,7′‐bis(2‐carboxy‐ethyl)‐5(and‐6)‐carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to study the regulation of cytosolic pH (pHi) in the isolated, perfused main excretory duct of the mouse mandibular gland. In nominally HCO3−free solutions, removal of Na+ from the lumen alone caused pHi to decline whereas removing it from the bath alone did not. Readmission of Na+ to the lumen of ducts studied under zero‐Na+ conditions caused pHi to recover fully. This recovery was blocked by 5‐(N‐ethyl‐N‐isopropyl)‐amiloride (EIPA) with a half‐maximum concentration of 0.5 μmol l−1, indicating the presence of an apical Na+–H+ exchanger. Readmission of Na+ to the bath of ducts studied under zero‐Na+ conditions also caused pHi to recover. This recovery was blocked by 100 μmol l−1 EIPA, indicating the presence of a basolateral Na+‐H+ exchanger. Measurements of H+ fluxes indicated that the apical Na+–H+ exchanger was approximately four times more active than the basolateral Na+‐H+ exchanger. In three sets of experiments (in the absence of Na+, in the presence of Na+, and in the presence of Na+ plus 100 μmol l−1 EIPA), the effects of changing luminal K+ concentration on pHi were examined. We found no evidence for the presence of K+–H+ exchange or Na+‐coupled K+–H+ exchange in the apical membranes of duct cells. pHi recovery under nominally HCO3−‐free conditions following acidification with an NH4Cl pulse was abolished by removal of Na+ from the bath and luminal solutions, indicating that no Na+‐independent systems such as H+‐ATPases were present. A repeat of the above experiments in the presence of 25 mmol l−1 HCO3− plus 5% CO2 did not reveal any additional H+ transport systems. The removal of luminal Cl−, however, caused a small rise in pHi. This latter effect was blocked by 500 μmoll−1 4,4′‐diisothio‐cyanatodihydrostilbene‐2,2′‐disulphonic acid (H2‐DIDS), suggesting that a Cl−–HCO3− exchanger in the apical membrane might contribute in a minor way to pHi regulation. We conclude that the predominant H+ transport systems in the mouse mandibular main excretory duct are Na+‐H+ exchangers in the apical and the basolateral membranes. The model we postulate to account for electrolyte transport across the main duct in the mouse mandibular gland is quite different from that previously developed for the rat duct but is similar to that developed for the rabbit duct. The difference is in concordance with the known ability of the mandibular gland of the rat, but not the rabbit or the mouse, to secrete a HCO3−‐rich final saliva.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Kaempferia parviflora extract (KD) and exercise training on reproductive function in male rats. Sexually mature males were assigned to four groups: control, KD70 (received 70 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 4 weeks), Ex (exercise training for 4 weeks), Ex + KD70 (exercise training with KD 70 mg kg(-1) day(-1)). At the end of treatment regimes, sexual behaviours including mount latency (ML), mount frequency (MF), ejaculation latency (EL), post-ejaculation latency (PEL), number of mount within 30 min (MF(30)) and number of ejaculation (NEL) were assessed by a video camera, and fertility was tested by natural mating. Results showed that KD had no effect on the weights of reproductive organs, liver, kidneys and levator ani muscle. On the other hand, the weights of epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate gland and levator ani muscle were significantly increased in the Ex and Ex+KD70 groups. ML and EL were shortened in all treatment groups, but PEL was decreased only in KP70 group. Only Ex and Ex + KD70 groups exhibited lower MF and higher NEL whilst MF(30) were not changed in all groups. None of the treatments altered male fertility. It is concluded that KD enhanced sexual motivation whereas exercise training promoted both sexual motivation and performance.

-Vascular endothelium is a target of cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Cd exposure has been reported to be associated with vascular disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Cd exposure on markers of endothelial function in human subjects chronically exposed to Cd. Based on blood Cd levels, seventy-five women were categorized into non-exposed, Cd-exposed and severely Cd-exposed groups. Nitrite, L-arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and soluble thrombomodulin levels in blood were measured. Nitrite levels were lower in Cd-exposed subjects than non-exposed subjects. Plasma L-arginine decreased while ADMA, an endogenous endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor, increased in Cd-exposed subjects. Soluble thrombomodulin also increased in Cd-exposed subjects. In Cd-exposed subjects, plasma malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl groups increased while the erythrocytic glutathione decreased. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a negative association between urinary Cd and nitrite levels in erythrocytes. Our research suggests that subjects with chronic Cd exposure have endothelial dysfunction.

Spermatozoa were collected from the caput and cauda epididymidis of rabbits and rats and diluted in Hank's solution containing BSA, with various concentrations of Na+ and K+. Ionic strength and osmolarity were kept constant. Motility was assessed at various intervals during incubation at 25 degrees C. In the pH range 7.05--7.20, the motility of rabbit spermatozoa was not affected by changes in the ratio of K+ to Na+. Similarly, the motility of rat cauda spermatozoa was not altered, but that of caput spermatozoa was slightly depressed by a high K+/Na+ ratio. In the pH range 5.45--5.85, rabbit cauda and caput spermatozoa had much greater motility in media with a high K+/Na+ ratio. The reverse result was obtained for the rat. These findings indicate that the motility of epididymal spermatozoa is influenced by external Na+ and K+ concentrations and that this phenomenon is pH-dependent.