Effects of caltrop saponin on spermatogenic function of testis in aging mice

Objective To investigate the effects of caltrop saponin on spermatogenic function of testis in D-galactoseinduced aging mice and to provide experimental basis for anti-aging research.Methods Forty healthy Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups(control group,model group,caltrop saponin group,and vitamin EVEgroup,ten for each group.D-galactose of 5% was employed by cervical subcutaneous injection to build subacute aging model.Treated groups were intragastric ally administered with caltrop saponin and VE.The control and model group were given equal volume of pure water.After six weeks,the catalase(CAT)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activities of whole blood were detected.Sperm density,sperm motility,and percentage of live sperm were detected as well.Results In the caltrop saponin group,the activities of CAT(24.28±1.53 U/mgHb)and GSH-Px(205.65±10.94 U)were obviously higher than those in the model group(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,density(6.34±0.24×10⁵/mL)and motility of sperm(73.28±1.60%),percentage of live sperm(76.61±2.19%)were increased obviously in the caltrop saponin group,with significant differences between the two groups(P<0.01 for all).Conclusion Caltrop saponin can improve spermatogenic function in aging mice by anti-oxidation.