[Chinese herbal medicine enhances sexual function and c-Fos/nNOS expression in the nucleus accumbens of orchidectomized rats].
CONCLUSION: An increase of plasma testosterone after administration of "kidney-nourishing" herbal medicine might contribute to the elevated sexual function and activity in orchidectomized rats. In addition, a central nervous system mechanism, such as the functional alteration of NAc, might be involved. Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the central nervous system is involved in the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on sexual function recovery in orchidectomized rats.
METHODS: Orchidectomized rats were administered intragastrically with a decoction of "kidney-nourishing" Chinese herbal medicine once per day for 28 days. Accessory genital organ weight, plasma testosterone, and mating behavior were investigated. The expression of c-Fos and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in neuronal cells in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
PMID: 27468550 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Authors: Liu H, Cui J, Zhai H, Xue J, Wang X Tags: J Tradit Chin Med Source Type: research