Chen Baoxia, Ma Qiang, Ma Huifang, Zhang Wenfei, Wu Runmin, Niu Chun, Guo Rongxia, Ma Zhiyuan, Ji Peng, Wei Yanming, Hua Yongli
College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China.
Gansu Provincial Livestock Breeding and Improvement Management Station, Wuwei, China.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Jun 18;12:1595145. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1595145. eCollection 2025.
OBJECTIVE: Oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) is a common reproductive disorder characterized by reduced sperm count and motility in animals. Yougui Pill (YP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. However, its effects on Simmental bulls are relatively limited, and the mechanisms involved in the regulation of OA remain unknown. METHODS: In this study, antler gum was removed from the original formula, and the key components and their mechanism of action of Modified Yougui Power (MYP) for the treatment of OA were investigated by UPLC-MS/MS analysis, amino acid metabolomics studies, and molecular docking analysis. UPLC-MS/MS was used to detect and study the active compounds of MYP. The levels of T, E2, FSH, and LH in the serum of OA and the control group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of amino acid metabolites and related metabolic pathways in semen of the OA and control groups were detected by UHPLC-MRM-MS/MS. Molecular docking was used to assess the affinity between the primary active ingredients associated with OA and their core targets. RESULTS: The main components of MYP include trehalose, morroniside, hypaconitine, loganin, quercetin, kaempferol, and other compounds. MYP treatment improved sperm count, sperm motility, and expression of T, E2, and FSH in OA bulls. Amino acid metabolomics analysis revealed that MYP treatment influenced 67 metabolites in comparison to the OA group. Among these, 47 amino acid metabolites were found to be upregulated, including Arginine, Phenylalanine, and Serine, among others. Conversely, 20 amino acid metabolites exhibited downregulation. The discovery of cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, D-amino acid metabolism, the biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, as well as the mTOR signaling pathway, are significant metabolic pathways. Molecular docking results validated robust binding interactions between these active ingredients and their respective core targets. CONCLUSION: MYP exhibits significant therapeutic potential for OA in Simmental bulls by regulating hormone expression and restoring amino acid metabolic homeostasis. This present study elucidates the complex mechanisms through which MYP exerts its effects in the treatment of OA, thereby providing new evidence for understanding the pharmacological properties of traditional Chinese medicine for OA from multiple perspectives. Furthermore, MYP may represent a cost-effective therapeutic option for the treatment of OA in animals.
目的:少弱精子症(OA)是一种常见的生殖系统疾病,其特征为动物精子数量减少和活力降低。右归丸(YP)是一种用于治疗少弱精子症的传统中药方剂。然而,其对西门塔尔公牛的疗效相对有限,且调节OA的相关机制尚不清楚。 方法:在本研究中,从原方剂中去除鹿角胶,并通过超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)分析、氨基酸代谢组学研究和分子对接分析,研究改良右归丸(MYP)治疗OA的关键成分及其作用机制。采用UPLC-MS/MS检测和研究MYP的活性成分。采用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法检测OA组和对照组血清中睾酮(T)、雌二醇(E2)、卵泡刺激素(FSH)和黄体生成素(LH)的水平。采用超高效液相色谱-多反应监测-串联质谱(UHPLC-MRM-MS/MS)检测OA组和对照组精液中氨基酸代谢产物的水平及相关代谢途径。利用分子对接评估与OA相关的主要活性成分与其核心靶点之间的亲和力。 结果:MYP的主要成分包括海藻糖、莫诺苷、次乌头碱、马钱苷、槲皮素、山奈酚等化合物。MYP治疗可提高OA公牛的精子数量、精子活力以及T、E2和FSH的表达水平。氨基酸代谢组学分析显示,与OA组相比,MYP治疗影响了67种代谢产物。其中,47种氨基酸代谢产物上调,包括精氨酸、苯丙氨酸和丝氨酸等。相反,20种氨基酸代谢产物下调。半胱氨酸和蛋氨酸代谢、甘氨酸、丝氨酸和苏氨酸代谢、丙氨酸、天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢、精氨酸生物合成、D-氨基酸代谢、苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸和色氨酸生物合成以及mTOR信号通路是显著的代谢途径。分子对接结果验证了这些活性成分与其各自核心靶点之间有强大的结合相互作用。 结论:MYP通过调节激素表达和恢复氨基酸代谢稳态,对西门塔尔公牛的OA具有显著的治疗潜力。本研究阐明了MYP治疗OA的复杂作用机制,从而从多个角度为理解中药治疗OA的药理特性提供了新的证据。此外,MYP可能是治疗动物OA的一种经济有效的治疗选择。
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