Moxa smoke: Is it a beneficial or hazardous factor for infertility? A preclinical study on sperm parameters and sex hormones in male rats

IntroductionMoxibustion is commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The aim was to investigate how the exposure of moxa smoke influences sperm parameters, testis index and serum sex hormones in Wistar male rats.Methods48 Wistar rats were randomly assigned, n = 12/group, to a control group or one of three moxa-smoke groups: M1 (low concentration, 0.4% of optical density), M2 (middle concentration, 2%) and M3 (high concentration, 15%). Rats in moxa smoke groups were exposed at the respective concentrations of M1 (0.4% of optical density), M2 (2%) and M3 (15%) for 12 weeks, at 5 days per week and 200 min per day. Dynamic analyses of sperm fluid were used to determine sperm concentration, progressive motility, sperm motility, linearity (LIN), wobble (WOB), straightness (STR), velocity of curved line (VCL), velocity of straight line (VSL) and velocity of average path (VAP). The testis index (TI) was measured, and serum sex hormones were determined by using ELISA.ResultsAt the end of 12 weeks of treatment, when the control group was compared with the moxa-smoke groups, the moxa-smoke groups exhibited the following results: sperm concentrations were significantly higher in groups M1 and M3 (p = 0.013), progressive motility was significantly higher in M1 (p = 0.006), and sperm motility was significantly higher in groups M1, M2 and M3 (M1, p = 0.003; M2, p = 0.044; M3, p = 0.008). Compared to the control group, TI was also significantly higher in groups M1, M2 and M3 (M1, p = 0.004; M2, p = 0.003; M3, p = 0.002), as were serum total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and testosterone secreting index (TSI), respectively (TT, p = 0.000; FT, TSI, p = 0.001). Compared to M1, TT was significantly lower in groups M2 and M3 (M2, p = 0.021; M3, P = 0.001). The comparison of LIN, WOB, STR, VCL, VSL and VAP between groups showed no significant differences.ConclusionAs compared to the non-moxa-smoke control group, low, middle and high concentrations of moxa smoke are effective to improve the male reproductive system in Wistar rats. More specifically, low moxa-smoke concentration seems slightly better than high concentrations for improving the sperm concentrations, progressive motility and sperm motility, TI, TT, FT, TSI of Wistar rats.