Objective To investigate the effects of different electroacupuncture(EA)parameters for the treatment of asthenozoospermia in rats.Methods One hundred and five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 Hz-EA treatment daily in 3dgroup(n=9)

sham-EA group(n=10)

model group(n=10);2Hz-EA treatment every other day in 5dgroup

sham-EA group

model group(8rats in each group);2Hz-EA treatment every other day in 9dgroup

sham-EA group

model group(10rats in each group);100Hz-EA treatment every other day in 9dgroup(n=7)

sham-EA group(n=8)

model group(n=7).Asthenozoospermia model was established by intragastric administration of ornidazole(ORN

400mg·kg-1·d-1)once daily till the end of treatment.EA treatments(2Hz or 100Hz)were applied to"Shenshu"(BL 23

bilateral)

"Zusanli"(ST 36

bilateral)for 30 min

intensity of 1-2-3mA(increasing 1mA per 10min)

once a day or once every other day for 3times or 5times.Sham-EA groups were treated with similar procedure except that the output leads of the stimulator were disconnected.The sperm density

viability

motility

the number of grade A sperm

and grade A+B sperm were examined by computer-assisted sperm analysis.Results(1)2Hz-EA treatment daily in 3d:compared with the model group and the sham-EA group

2Hz-EA treatment once daily had no significant effect on all of the sperm motility indexes in the asthenozoospermic rats(P>0.05).(2)2Hz-EA treatment every other day in 5d:compared with the model group

EA treatment could increase the sperm motility(P<0.05)

the number of grade A sperm(P<0.05)

and the number of grade A+B sperm(P<0.05)in the asthenozoospermic rats.However

compared with the sham-EA group

EA treatment could only improve the number of grade A+B sperm(P<0.05).(3)2Hz-EA treatment every other day in 9d:compared with both the model group and the sham-EA group

EA treatment could markedly improve the sperm viability(P<0.001)

the sperm motility(P<0.001)

the number of grade A sperm(P<0.001)

and the number of grade A+B sperm(P<0.001)in the asthenozoospermic rats.(4)100Hz-EA treatment every other day in 9days:compared with both the model group and the sham-EA group

all of the sperm indexes in the asthenozoospermic rats including the sperm viability(P<0.001 vs.the model group

P<0.05 vs.the sham-EA group)

the sperm motility(P<0.001 vs.the model group

P<0.01 vs.the sham-EA group)

the number of grade A sperm(P<0.01)and the number of grade A+B sperm(P<0.01)also could be improved after EA treatment.Unexpectedly

none of the EA treatment had significant influence on the sperm density in the asthenozoospermic rats.Conclusion Both 2Hz-EA and 100Hz-EA treatment once every other day for 5times in 9dhad a therapeutic effect on asthenozoospermia by improving the sperm viability and the sperm motility in the rats.