In vitro and in vivo investigation of the therapeutic mechanism of Lycium Chinense and Cuscutae Semen on oligoasthenozoospermia

Through network pharmacology research, we found that CYP19, CYP17, AR and SRD5A2 were potential targets for lycium chinense-cuscutae semen (LC-CS) treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. Using in vitro and in vivo experiments, tripterygium glycosides were used to induce spermatogenic dysfunction models in GC-1spg cells and SD male rats, respectively, and LC-CS was used to intervene in a spermatogenic dysfunction model. In vitro, LC-CS could repair the ultrastructure of GC-1spg cells damaged by tripterygium glycosides (TG). Compared with TG group, LC-CS could upregulate protein and mRNA expression of CYP19, CYP17, AR and SRD5A2. In vivo, compared with TG, the body mass, testicular mass and epididymal weights of rats in TG + LC-CS increased. Progressive motility + nonprogressive motility spermatozoon (PR + NP) of TG + LC-CS were upregulate than TG. The levels of FSH, LH and testosterone in TG + LC-CS were upregulate than TG. LC-CS can repair the ultrastructure of spermatogonia damaged by TG (the above results are statistically significant, p <.05). Results of H&E staining and TEM showed that the morphology and ultrastructure of testicular tissue in TG + LC-CS were better than that in TG. Compared with TG, LC-CS could upregulate the expression of CYP19, CYP17, AR and SRD5A2 proteins and mRNA.