Bazi Bushen alleviates reproductive aging in aged male mice

Abstract

Bazi Bushen (BZBS), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in testicular dysfunction within D-galactose and NaNO₂ mouse models. This study aimed to ascertain if BZBS could also mitigate the decline in testicular function associated with natural aging. Therefore, male aged mice were employed to evaluate the preventive effects of BZBS on male reproductive aging. This was achieved by assessing sex hormone production, testicular histomorphology, and spermatogenesis. Relative to the untreated aged control group, BZBS administration elevated the levels of sex hormones and spermatocyte populations and preserved normal testicular structure in aged mice. Notably, spermatogenesis was maintained. Further analyses, including malondialdehyde (MDA) assays and real-time PCR, indicated that BZBS diminished testicular oxidative stress and the inflammatory burden. Corroborating these findings, mice treated with BZBS exhibited reductions in the populations of senescent and apoptotic cells within the seminiferous tubules, suggesting alleviated cellular damage. In contrast, we observed that rapamycin, a drug known for its longevity benefits, induced excessive testicular apoptosis and did not decrease lipid peroxidation. Collectively, our results highlight BZBS’s promising clinical potential in counteracting male reproductive aging, underlining its mechanisms of action.

Keywords

Traditional Chinese medicine / Male reproductive aging / Spermatogenic cells / Cell senescence / Apoptosis

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Funding

Strategic Consulting Project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering-Strategic Research(2022-XY-45)

S&T Programs of Hebei Province, China(E2020100001)

S&T Programs of Hebei Province, China(22372502D)

High-level S&T Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Project of Shijiazhuang City(07202203)

Scientific Research Project of Hebei Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(2023172)

Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China(H2022106065)