Effects of Heshouwuyin on gene expression of the insulin/IGF signalling pathway in rat testis and spermatogenic cells.

Context: The Chinese herbal formula Heshouwu decoction (Heshouwuyin) has protective effects on testicular function in aging male rats, but the mechanism is unknown.

Objective: This study investigated whether Heshouwuyin affects the testicular function of aging rats by regulating the insulin/IGF signalling pathway.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen-month-old male Wistar rats in the Heshouwuyin group and the natural-aging group were orally administered Heshouwuyin granules (0.

Mechanism of Heshouwuyin inhibiting the Cyt c/Apaf-1/Caspase-9/Caspase-3 pathway in spermatogenic cell apoptosis.

Background: The Chinese herbal compound Heshouwuyin has been shown to downregulate the apoptotic rate of testicular tissue cells in Wistar naturally aging rats, and this effect might be related to the mitochondrial pathway [15]. Apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) is a major component of the apoptotic complex, which is a key element of the mitochondrial endogenous apoptotic pathway [13]. To further clarify the mechanism of Heshouwuyin in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, this study used Apaf-1 as a target to explore the mechanism by which Heshouwuyin inhibits the Apaf-1 pathway of spermatogenic cell apoptosis.