Effect of electro-acupuncture on reproductive endocrine and renal contents of SOD and MDA in aging male rats with partial androgen deficiency

Objective To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture on reproductive endocrine and renal contents of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in aging male(PADAM)rats with partial androgen deficiency.Methods Forty male rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10)and model group(n=30).Rats in the model group were injected with cyclophosphamide 20mg/(kg·d)into the abdominal cavities to establish PADAM model.The24 successful model rats were further randomized into electro-acupuncture,androlin treatment and blank groups;rats received corresponding treatment for 8weeks.The general conditions of the animals were observed before and 1day after modeling and at the end of treatment.Tail suspension experiments and exhaustion swimming tests were performed;and the serum total testosterone(TT)and free testosterone(FT)levels were determined.The contents of SOD and MDA in renal tissues were examined at the end of the experiments by hydroxylamine method.Results After treatment with cyclophosphamide,the serum levels of TT and FT in rats were significantly decreased(P0.01),being lower than the 99%confidence interval of the normal control group,and the animals developed behaviors similar to those of PADAM,indicating successful modeling.The serum TT and FT levels in electro-acupuncture group and androlin group were significantly higher than those in the pre-therapy and blank control groups(P0.01);the duration of immobility and exhaustion swimming were also significantly improved in the two treatment groups(P0.01);and SOD activities in the kidney were significantly increased(P0.01)and MDA contents were significantly decreased(P0.01)in electro-acupuncture group and androlin group;while no significant differences were found between electro-acupuncture group and androlin group(P0.05).Conclusion Electro-acupuncture can increase serum TT and FT levels in PADAM rats,improve the depression state,myodynamia and energy in the aging rats,with its effect being equivalent to that of testosterone propionate.Electro-acupuncture can increase SOD level and decease MDA level in PADAM rats,indicating that electro-acupuncture may function by improving the free radicals system of PADAM rats.