Effect of Korean Herbal Formula (Modified Ojayeonjonghwan) on Androgen Receptor Expression in an Aging Rat Model of Late Onset Hypogonadism

Abstract

Purpose: Testosterone replacement therapy is an effective treatment for late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) despite a few contraindications and side-effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether modified Ojayeonjonghwan (KH-204, Korean herbal formula) improved LOH. KH-204 is a strong antioxidant herbal formula. We evaluated the effect of Korean herbal prescription on androgen receptor (AR) expression in an aged rat model of LOH.

Materials and methods: Eighteen-month-old rats were used as aged LOH rat models. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three equal groups of six animals each and treated with one of the following: 1) normal control group (oral administration with distilled water, n=6), 2) KH-204 200 group (oral administration with 200 mg/kg of KH-204, n=6), and 3) KH-204 400 group (oral administration with 400 mg/kg of KH-204, n=6). After four weeks of treatment (once daily, distilled water or KH-204), serum testosterone levels, changes in testicular and epididymal weight, Western blotting analysis of AR expression and measurement of oxidative stress were examined.

Results: Treatment with the herbal formulation KH-204 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg (1) increased the weights of testis and epididymis; (2) increased the level of serum testosterone; (3) increased the level of superoxide dismutase and reduced the level of 8-hydroxy-20-deoxyguanosine; and (4) upregulated AR expression in testicular tissue.

Conclusions: KH-204 might be an effective alternative for LOH. It improves antioxidant mechanisms and increases testicular AR expression without side-effects.

Keywords: Hypogonadism; Phytotherapy; Receptors, androgen; Testosterone.

Fig. 1. Effects of KH-204 on serum testosterone levels (n=6/group). All values represent mean±standard deviation, ^*p<0.05 compared with control group.

Fig. 2. Comparison of expression levels of oxidative stress markers as reflected by superoxide dismutase (SOD) (A) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) (B). All values are mean±standard deviation, ^*p<0.005 compared with control group.

Fig. 3. Western blots for expression of androgen receptor (AR) of KH-204 and control groups in male Sprague-Dawley rat testis and prostate tissue. In this figure, panel A and B show testis, whereas panel C and D present prostate data. Data are expressed as means. ^*Statistical significance in comparison with control group.