Influence of traditional Chinese medicine on spermatozoa infected in vitro with Escherichia coli

Abstract

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common cause of urogenital infection and is implicated in genesis of male infertility. In this in vitro study, the influence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-Qinglishengjing pills on spermatozoa infected in vitro with E. coli was studied. Semen samples were prepared by standard technique and sperm suspension was coincubated respectively with E2888 EARLE'S (group A as normal control), E. coli suspension (group B), mixture of E. coli suspension and TCM (group C) and mixture of E. coli suspension and Furadantin (group D) in vitro. After coincubation, motility parameters, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalisation and morphology of spermatozoa were evaluated. No significant difference between the group C and group A was found in sperm motility parameters (P > 0.05), whereas difference between group B and group A was significant after 2 h (P < 0.05) and 4 h (P < 0.01). Mixed agglutination and ultrastructure damage could be observed in group B and no apparent similar agglutination and ultrastructure damage were observed in other groups. There was no difference in PS externalisation per cent between the groups A and C (P > 0.05) and there was significant difference between the groups A and D, A and B, B and D, C and D (P < 0.01). TCM-Qinglishengjing pills could reverse E. coli effects on spermatozoa in vitro.