Download PDF
Planta Med 2012; 78(15): 1620-1625
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315212
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Long-term Administration of Cordycepin from Cordyceps militaris on Testicular Function in Middle-aged Rats

Sang-Hyun Sohn
1   Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
3   Present address: Department of Medicinal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Eumseong, Republic of Korea
,
Su-Chan Lee
1   Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
,
Seock-Yeon Hwang
2   Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Applied Industry, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
,
Sung-Won Kim
1   Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
,
Il-Woung Kim
1   Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
,
Michael B. Ye
1   Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
,
Si-Kwan Kim
1   Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Republic of Korea
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 10 April 2012
revised 03 July 2012

accepted 16 July 2012

Publication Date:
07 August 2012 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the potential beneficial effect of cordycepin on the decline of testicular function induced with age. A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats (twenty-four 12-month-olds and six 2-month-olds) were divided into five groups. The young control (YC) and middle-aged control (MC) groups received vehicle only. Cordycepin-treated groups were administered daily doses of oral cordycepin at 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight for 4 months. As a result, the MC group exhibited epididymal weight loss, decreased sperm motility, and reduced spermatogenesis compared to the young control group. Interestingly, the epididymal weights of middle-aged rats were dose-dependently increased by treatment with cordycepin. Cordycepin also improved calcium levels and decreased urea and nitrogen, uric acid, and creatinine in the blood of middle-aged rats. In addition, cordycepin significantly increased sperm motility and the progressiveness of sperm movement. All cordycepin-treated groups showed well-arranged spermatogonia, densely packed cellular material, and increased numbers of mature spermatozoa in the seminiferous lumen compared to the middle-aged control group. These results indicate that long-term administration of cordycepin can counteract the decline of testicular function in middle-aged rats.

Key words

cordycepin - Cordyceps militaris - testicular function - sperm motility - spermatogenesis-aging
 

  • References

  • 1 Lue TF. Erectile dysfunction. N Engl J Med 2000; 342: 1802-1813
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Shamloul R. Natural aphrodisiacs. J Sex Med 2010; 7: 39-49
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Murphy LL, Lee TJ. Ginseng, sex behavior, and nitric oxide. Ann NY Acad Sci 2002; 962: 372-377
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Huang YL, Leu SF, Liu BC, Sheu CC, Huang BM. In vivo stimulatory effect of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium and its fractions on reproductive functions in male mouse. Life Sci 2004; 75: 1051-1062
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Hwang SY, Sohn SH, Wee JJ, Yang JB, Kyung JS, Kwak YS, Kim SW, Kim SK. Panax ginseng improves senile testicular function in rats. J Ginseng Res 2010; 34: 327-335
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Nan JX, Park EJ, Yang BK, Song CH, Ko G, Sohn DH. Antifibrotic effect of extracellular biopolymer from submerged mycelial cultures of Cordyceps militaris on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation and scission in rats. Arch Pharm Res 2001; 24: 327-332
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Paterson RR. Cordyceps: a traditional Chinese medicine and another fungal therapeutic biofactory?. Phytochemistry 2008; 69: 1469-1495
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Wojcikowski K, Johnson DW, Gobe G. Medicinal herbal extracts–renal friend or foe? Part two: herbal extracts with potential renal benefits. Nephrology (Carlton) 2004; 9: 400-405
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Ji DB, Ye J, Li CL, Wang YH, Zhao J, Cai SQ. Antiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract. Phytother Res 2009; 23: 116-122
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Zhu JS, Halpern GM, Jones K. The scientific rediscovery of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine: Cordyceps sinensis: part I. J Altern Complement Med 1998; 4: 289-303
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Sugar AM, McCaffrey RP. Antifungal activity of 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin). Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1998; 42: 1424-1427
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Moriwaki Y, Yamamoto T, Higashino K. Enzymes involved in purine metabolism–a review of histochemical localization and functional implications. Histol Histopathol 1999; 14: 1321-1340
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Frederiksen S, Malling H, Klenow H. Isolation of 3′-Deoxyadenosine (Cordycepin) from the Liquid Medium of Cordyceps militaris (L. Ex Fr.) Link. Biochim Biophys Acta 1965; 95: 189-193
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Hankinson O. Role of coactivators in transcriptional activation by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Arch Biochem Biophys 2005; 433: 379-386
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Russell LD, Ettlin RA, Hikim AP, Clegg ED. The classification and timing of spermatogenesis. Staging for laboratory species. In: Russell LD, Ettlin RA, Hikim AP, Clegg ED, editors Histological and histopathological evaluation of the testis. Clearwater: Cache River Press; 1990: 62-69
    Google Scholar
  • 16 Johnsen SG. Testicular biopsy score count–a method for registration of spermatogenesis in human testes: normal values and results in 335 hypogonadal males. Hormones 1970; 1: 2-25
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Lin WH, Tsai MT, Chen YS, Hou RC, Hung HF, Li CH, Wang HK, Lai MN, Jeng KC. Improvement of sperm production in subfertile boars by Cordyceps militaris supplement. Am J Chin Med 2007; 35: 631-641
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Chang Y, Jeng KC, Huang KF, Lee YC, Hou CW, Chen KH, Cheng FY, Liao JW, Chen YS. Effect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley rats. Am J Chin Med 2008; 36: 849-859
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Maran RR, Aruldhas MM. Adverse effects of neonatal hypothyroidism on Wistar rat spermatogenesis. Endocr Res 2002; 28: 141-154
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Haidl G, Jung A, Schill WB. Ageing and sperm function. Hum Reprod 1996; 11: 558-560
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Kidd SA, Eskenazi B, Wyrobek AJ. Effects of male age on semen quality and fertility: a review of the literature. Fertil Steril 2001; 75: 237-248
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Tenover JL. Testosterone and the aging male. J Androl 1997; 18: 103-106
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Plas E, Berger P, Hermann M, Pfluger H. Effects of aging on male fertility?. Exp Gerontol 2000; 35: 543-551
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Neaves WB, Johnson L, Porter JC, Parker Jr. CR, Petty CS. Leydig cell numbers, daily sperm production, and serum gonadotropin levels in aging men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984; 59: 756-763
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Johnson L, Petty CS, Neaves WB. Influence of age on sperm production and testicular weights in men. J Reprod Fertil 1984; 70: 211-218
    PubMedGoogle Scholar