BackgroundAnticancer agents induce a variety of adverse effects when administered to cancer patients. Busulfan is a known antileukemia agent. When administered for treatment of leukemia in young patients, busulfan could cause damage to the male reproductive system as one of its adverse effects, resulting in sterility.MethodsWe investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) on busulfan-induced damage and/or dysfunction of the male reproductive system.ResultsWe found that administration of busulfan to mice: decreased testis weight; caused testicular histological damage; reduced the total number of sperm, sperm motility, serum testosterone concentration; and eventually, litter size. Preadministration of KRGE partially attenuated various busulfan-induced damages to the male reproductive system. These results indicate that KRGE has a protective effect against busulfan-induced damage to the male reproduction system.ConclusionThe present study shows a possibility that KRGE could be applied as a useful agent to prevent or protect the male reproductive system from the adverse side effects induced by administration of anticancer agents such as busulfan.

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The surface modification of polyimide (PI) by the irradiation of 3 keV He+, Ne+ and Ar+ ions was studied using XPS and AFM at various ion dose ranging from 1􀂯1014 to 1􀂯1017 ions/cm2. The change of surface roughness of PI by 3 keV inert ions was closely connected to the change of surface composition. At low doses below 5􀂯1015 ions/cm2, the surface of polyimide was carbonized by ion irradiations, showing rough surfaces. At higher ion doses, the surface composition was saturated due to the accumulation of damages, and the surface morphology became smoother as compared with the low dose case.

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