Dynamic Protective Effect of Chinese Herbal Prescription, Yiqi Jiedu Decoction, on Testis in Mice with Acute Radiation Injury

Abstract

Objective. A Chinese herbal prescription, Yiqi Jiedu (YQJD) decoction, is used for injuries caused by radiotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic protective effects of YQJD decoction in mice on radiation damage at different time points of the testis. Methods. The 200 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (blank, model, Anduolin, low-dose YQJD, and high-dose YQJD groups). Blank and model groups were all given stomach deionized water. Anduolin group and high and low dose of Chinese herb groups were treated with Chinese material medical decoction compound for 2 weeks before being irradiated. Except for the blank group, other groups were given whole-body one-time irradiation of 5.5 Gy 60Co gamma rays. Histopathology examination of testes was conducted on the 1st, 7th, 21st, and 35th day after irradiation, respectively. Indexes of sperm motility rate, sperm count, serum levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were also measured correspondingly. Result. Compared to 1 day and 7 days after irradiation, most of the indexes, including testis index, sperm motility, and count, were decreased on the 21st and 35th day in all irradiated groups. However, compared with the model group, the indexes to assess sperm quality and the morphological structures of testis in low-dose and high-dose YQJD groups were significantly recovered on the 21st and 35th days. Additionally, reproductive hormones, including testosterone and estradiol, were recovered more in low-dose and high-dose YQJD groups on the 21st and 35th days. Conclusion. The YQJD decoction is able to accelerate the recovery of sperm indexes, testosterone, and estradiol levels of sex hormones in mice after irradiation and demonstrated good protective effects on the testis.

The hydrogen storage nanomaterial MgH 2 improves irradiation-induced male fertility impairment by suppressing oxidative stress

“…Therefore, damage during any phase affects spermatogenesis. The spermatogenic cycle of male mice last approximately 35 days, at which time spermatogonia begin to recover and new spermatogenic cells appear [ 34 ]. In our study, the structure of the seminiferous tubules in IR-treated mice, including the widened interstitial space, the decreased number of interstitial cells, and the serious vacuolation, had not recovered on the 35th day.…”

Development of radiation countermeasure agents for acute radiation syndromes

“…Wolf, L. barbarum L, G. lucidum Karst, and Astragalus mongholicus Bunge exerted radioprotective effects by improving the survival of irradiated mice by reducing radiation-induced injury of the immune system. 91 Qi tonification and toxin removal induced by Chinese herbal medicines can reduce the recovery time after complete blood cell inhibition and reduce radiation-induced mortality in mice, 92 and Yiqi and Yangyin formulas were shown to improve the survival rate of mice exposed to sublethal doses of TBI by reducing intracellular ROS levels in hematopoietic cells. 93 Collectively, these studies have demonstrated that Chinese herbal medicines exert protective effects against acute radiation injury in various tissues, and their advantages may be related to the reduction in continuous tissue damage caused by radiation exposure and the promotion of subsequent recovery.…”

“…Wolf, L. barbarum L, G. lucidum Karst, and Astragalus mongholicus Bunge exerted radioprotective effects by improving the survival of irradiated mice by reducing radiation‐induced injury of the immune system 91 . Qi tonification and toxin removal induced by Chinese herbal medicines can reduce the recovery time after complete blood cell inhibition and reduce radiation‐induced mortality in mice, 92 and Yiqi and Yangyin formulas were shown to improve the survival rate of mice exposed to sublethal doses of TBI by reducing intracellular ROS levels in hematopoietic cells 93 …”