Lycium chinense Mill improves hypogonadism via anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptotic effect in old aged rat model

Figures & data

Table 1. Comparison of testis, epididymal and body weight among groups.

	Testis (g)	p	Epididymis (g)	p	Body weight (g)	P
Control	1.74 ± 0.20		0.84 ± 0.07		522 ± 28.52
Goji 150 mg/kg	1.76 ± 0.15	NS	0.85 ± 0.18	NS	543 ± 31.33	NS
Goji 300 mg/kg	1.83 ± 0.16	NS	0.87 ± 0.12	NS	526 ± 22.10	NS
Goji complex 150 mg/kg	1.76 ± 0.25	NS	0.84 ± 0.10	NS	556 ± 26.64	NS
Goji complex 300 mg/kg	1.80 ± 0.10	NS	0.97 ± 0.10	NS	535 ± 30.25	NS

Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. *versus control groups (p<.05).

Table 2. Comparison of sperm counts and motility among groups.

	Sperm counts (*10^6)	p	Sperm motility (%)	p
Control	11.2 ± 1.07		35.58 ± 5.31
Goji 150 mg/kg	11.6 ± 1.18	NS	34.93 ± 6.44	NS
Goji 300 mg/kg	11.0 ± 1.78	NS	49.32 ± 13.62	NS
Goji complex 150 mg/kg	11.4 ± 1.20	NS	53.59 ± 11.93	<.05
Goji complex 300 mg/kg	11.4 ± 1.37	NS	54.02 ± 13.69	NS

Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. *versus control groups (p<.05).

Figure 1. Testosterone levels in the goji berry treatment groups and control group. Data are expressed as means. *Statistical significance in comparison with control group. **Statistical significance in comparison with goji berry 150 mg/kg group. (BMG-30 = goji berry, BMGC-30 = goji berry complex).

Figure 2. Expression of androgen receptor of goji berry and control groups in both testis and prostate tissue. (A) testis, (B) prostate. Data are expressed as means. *Statistical significance in comparison with control group. (BMG-30 = goji berry, BMGC-30 = goji berry complex).

Figure 3. Protective effect of goji berry against oxidative stress. (A) 8-OHdG (oxidative stress marker) (B) SOD (superoxidase). Data are expressed as means. *Statistical significance in comparison with control group. **Statistical significance in comparison with goji berry 150 mg/kg group. (BMG-30 = goji berry, BMGC-30 = goji berry complex).

Figure 4. Comparison of anti-apoptotic effects of goji berry groups based on immunohistochemical staining for the apoptosis-related markers (A) Bcl-2 and (B) BAX. Data are expressed as means. *Statistical significance in comparison with control group. **Statistical significance in comparison with goji berry 150 mg/kg group. (BMG-30 = goji berry, BMGC-30 = goji berry complex).

Figure 5. Enhanced phosphorylation of kinases in response to goji berry treatment: (A) Akt, (B) ERK. Data are expressed as means. *Statistical significance in comparison with control group. **Statistical significance in comparison with goji berry 150 mg/kg group. (BMG-30 = goji berry, BMGC-30 = goji berry complex).