Effect of a Traditional Herbal Prescription, Kyung-Ok-Ko, on Male Mouse Spermatogenic Ability after Heat-Induced Damage

摘要: Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), a well-known traditional Korean medicinal formula, has long been used to invigorate the essential qi. This use of KOK may be associated with reproductive ability as more modern concept. The protective effect was evaluated against deterioration testicular function induced by heat exposure in male mice. Male fertility disrupted scrotal stress at 43°C for 5 weeks. (0.25, 0.50, and 2.00 g/kg/day) administered orally 3 h after stress. To evaluate KOK, body weight, sperm count, motility, histopathological changes testes were evaluated. KOK-treated mice significantly recovered their general health, evidenced weight. also showed higher weights, counts, motility than did group. morphological appearance seminiferous tubules epithelium. Furthermore, increased antioxidant enzyme activities reduced protein expressions apoptosis testes. protects heat-induced damage inhibiting oxidative apoptosis, indicating that an effective agent treatment infertility.