Experimental Studies on Effects of Spleen- Qi Deficiency on NOS Activity in Penile Tissue of Male Rats

Objective: To study the effects of spleen- qi deficiency on NOS activity in penile tissue of male rats to provide experimental basis for the treatment of clinical male sexual dysfunction on the spleen theory. Methods: According to the method of random digits table,40 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group,model group,Nanbao group,and Sijunzi decoction group. The normal control group were not given any stimulation,other groups were stimulated by overstrain method of bitter cold diarrhea( intragastric administration of rhubarb and swimming) to induce the spleen- qi deficiency rats model. Changes of the serum gastrin,serum D- xylitol,and penile tissue nitric oxide synthase( NOS) activity index were detected. Results: To compared with normal group,levels of serum gastrin and serum D- xylitol of model group and Nanbao group significantly decreased while those of Sijunzi decoction group significantly increased; there was no significant difference compared with normal group. Penile tissue NOS activity of model group and Nanbao group was significantly lower than that of normal group,while that of Sijunzi decoction group was significantly higher than that of model group and Nanbao group; there was no significant difference compared with normal group. Conclusions: Spleen- qi deficiency can reduce penile tissue NOS activity of rat and affects sexual function; tonifying spleen- qi can improve the change.