BACKGROUND Qilin pills (QLPs), a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula for treating male infertility, effectively improve semen quality in clinical trials. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of QLPs on spermatogenesis, reproductive hormones, oxidative stress, and the testis-specific serinekinase-2 (TSSK2) gene in a rat model of oligoasthenospermia. METHODS Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups. The rat model with oligoasthenospermia was generated by intragastric administration of tripterygium glycosides (TGs) once daily for 4 weeks. Then, two treatment groups were given different doses (1.62 g/kg and 3.24 g/kg) of QLPs once daily for 60 days. Sperm parameters, testicular histology and reproductive hormone measurements, oxidative stress tests, and TSSK2 expression tests were carried out. RESULTS QLPs effectively improved semen parameters and testicular histology; restored the levels of FSH, LH, PRL, fT, and SHBG; reduced the levels of oxidative stress products (ROS and MDA); increased testicular SOD activity; and restored the expression of spermatogenesis-related gene TSSK2. CONCLUSION QLPs have a therapeutic effect on a rat model of oligoasthenospermia, and this effect is manifested as improvement of semen quality and testis histology, gonadal axis stability, decreased oxidative stress, and the regulation of testis-specific spermatogenesis-related gene TSSK2.

中文翻译：

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麒麟丸对少弱精子症大鼠模型精子发生、生殖激素、氧化应激和TSSK2基因的影响。


背景麒麟丸（QLPs）是治疗男性不育症的经典中药方剂，在临床试验中可有效改善精液质量。本研究旨在评估 QLP 对少弱精子症大鼠模型中精子发生、生殖激素、氧化应激和睾丸特异性丝氨酸激酶 2 (TSSK2) 基因的影响。方法40只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为4组。采用雷公藤多甙（TGs）灌胃，每日1次，连续4周，建立少弱精子症大鼠模型。然后，两个治疗组每天一次给予不同剂量（1.62 g/kg 和 3.24 g/kg）的 QLP，持续 60 天。进行了精子参数、睾丸组织学和生殖激素测量、氧化应激测试和 TSSK2 表达测试。结果QLPs有效改善精液参数和睾丸组织学；恢复 FSH、LH、PRL、fT 和 SHBG 水平；降低氧化应激产物（ROS 和 MDA）的水平；睾丸 SOD 活性增加；并恢复了精子发生相关基因TSSK2的表达。结论 QLPs对少弱精子症大鼠模型具有治疗作用，具体表现为改善精液质量和睾丸组织学、性腺轴稳定性、降低氧化应激以及调节睾丸特异性生精相关基因TSSK2。