Quantitative proteomics reveal the protective effects of Qiang Jing decoction against oligoasthenospermia via modulating spermatogenesis related-proteins.

BACKGROUND: According to the current situation, the treatment of oligoasthenospermia with Western medicine is still full of challenges. Qiang Jing decoction (QJD) is used for treating male infertility as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription. In this study. we will try to uncover the molecular mechanism of QJDs in treating oligoasthenospermia based on the proteomics technology. METHODS: In this study, sperm quality from oligoasthenospermia model, QJD treatment, and control rats were analyzed. Tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics was used for the comparative analysis of protein abundance in rat testis of different treatment. RESULTS: The therapeutic effect of QJDs on spermatogenesis function by improving sperm quality was confirmed in the present experiment. In addition, our results showed that the majority of proteins related to spermatogenesis were significantly downregulated in oligoasthenospermia model rats compared to the control group, whereas these proteins' expression levels were recovered after the QJD treatment. In the meantime, immunohistochemistry was used to determine PI3K/AKT (phosphoinositide 3 kinase/serine-threonine kinase) signaling pathway-related protein expression profiles. In brief, we think QJD improved sperm density and quality by activating spermatogenesis-related protein expression and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may help to establish a foundation for further functional studies of key protein-mediated for improving sperm quality and alleviating oligoasthenospermia.