Shengjing Capsule Improves Spermatogenesis through Upregulating Integrin α 6/ β 1 in the NOA Rats.

Objective. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Shengjing capsules on nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) in the rat model. Methods. Twenty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows (n = 5 per group): normal group, NOA group, and three Shengjing capsule treatment groups (low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups, respectively). HE staining and semen smear were performed to assess sperm quality. The expression levels of PI3K/AKT and integrin alpha 6/beta 1 were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Results. In the NOA group, almost all of the seminiferous tubules were vacuolated with a thin layer of basal compartment containing some spermatogonial stem cells. The counts of sperms in the NOA group were strongly lower than those of the normal group (P = 0.0001). The expression of PI3K/AKT and integrin alpha 6/beta 1 was scarcely expressed in the NOA group. All indexes mentioned above were significantly different from those of the medium- and high-dose groups (P = 0.001, all). The sperm count of rats treated with Shengjing capsules was significantly higher than that of the NOA group (P = 0.0001). The rats of Shengjing capsule groups had more layers of spermatogonial stem cells and spermatocytes, and some had intracavitary sperms. Conclusions. Shengjing capsules may be a promising therapeutic medicine for NOA. The underlying mechanisms might involve activating SSCs by upregulating the integrin alpha 6/beta 1 expression via the PI3K/AKT pathway.