Chinese herbal medicine enhances sexual function and c-Fos/nNOS expression in the nucleus accumbens of orchidectomized rats  

作　　者：Liu Hongyu Cui Jianmei Zhai Haifeng Xue Jinjuan Wang Xiaoyang 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine, North University of China [2]National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University [3]School of Physical Education, Shanxi University

出　　处：《Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine》2016年第3期347-352,共6页中医杂志（英文版）

基　　金：the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province(Effects and Mechanism of Electrical Stimulation of Mesolimbic Dopaminergic Pathway on Apioid Addiction,No.2012011042-1;Study on Element and Properties of Common Herb Medication Administrated Through the Skin Iontophoresis,No.2008011077-4)

摘　　要：OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the central nervous system is involved in the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on sexual function recovery in orchidectomized rats.METHODS: Orchidectomized rats were administered intragastrically with a decoction of "kidneynourishing" Chinese herbal medicine once per day for 28 days. Accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and mating behavior were investigated. The expression of c-Fos and neuronal nitric oxide synthase(n NOS) in neuronal cells in the nucleus accumbens(NAc) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: There was a decrease in accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and sexual behavior, as well as a low number of c-Fos-positive cells and a large n NOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats. Administration of the herbal medicine increased accessory genital organ weight, testosterone level, mating behavior, and c-Fos-positive cell number, while it decreased the n NOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats.CONCLUSION: An increase of plasma testosterone after administration of "kidney-nourishing" herbal medicine might contribute to the elevated sexual function and activity in orchidectomized rats. In addition, a central nervous system mechanism, such as the functional alteration of NAc, might be involved.OBJECTIVE： To determine whether the central nervous system is involved in the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on sexual function recovery in orchidectomized rats.METHODS： Orchidectomized rats were administered intragastrically with a decoction of ＂kidneynourishing＂ Chinese herbal medicine once per day for 28 days. Accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and mating behavior were investigated. The expression of c-Fos and neuronal nitric oxide synthase（n NOS） in neuronal cells in the nucleus accumbens（NAc） was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS： There was a decrease in accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and sexual behavior, as well as a low number of c-Fos-positive cells and a large n NOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats. Administration of the herbal medicine increased accessory genital organ weight, testosterone level, mating behavior, and c-Fos-positive cell number, while it decreased the n NOS-positive cell area in orchidectomized rats.CONCLUSION： An increase of plasma testosterone after administration of ＂kidney-nourishing＂ herbal medicine might contribute to the elevated sexual function and activity in orchidectomized rats. In addition, a central nervous system mechanism, such as the functional alteration of NAc, might be involved.

关 键 词：Medicine Chinese traditional Reinforcing kidney ORCHIDECTOMY Sexual function physiological Nucleus accumbens C-FOS Nitric oxide synthase type Ⅰ 

分 类 号：R285.5[医药卫生—中药学]