Mechanism of Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack) inImproving the Quality of Male Rat (Rattus norvegicus) Reproduction

Abstract

Pasak bumi is popular in the traditional medical herb that is believed can increase the secondary reproduction characters such as: 1. libido and 2. the duration of erection. Here a reported the research that focus on: 1. sexual behavior of the male white rat treated by pasak bumi. and the better dose of pasak bumi that indicated highest libido. 2. mechanism of pasak bumi in the hypophysis cells that produce reproduction hormones including: acidophile and basophile cells distribution, the response of luteinizing hormone (LH) cells and the response of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) cells. 3. The works of pasak bumi in the production of testosteron 4. The works of pasak bumi in the development stage of spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubule. 5. The works of pasak bumi in the quality of semen in cauda epididymis including profile of cauda epididymis ductus diameter, some parameters of macroscopical and microscopical semen quality. Research carried out in five experiments; experiment 1. using the designed cage to observe the male white rat behavior seduced by female oestrus in separating wire net. Then, the male white rat administered orally by various doses of pasak bumi to find out the best dose. Experiment 2, using HE staining method to study micromorphological distribution of the acidophile and basophile cells in hypophysis, and using immunohistochemical staining method to study the response of LH cells of the male rat hypophysis treated by pasak bumi, also using immunohistochemical staining method to study the response of FSH cells. Experiment 3.using the RIA method to measure testosterone level in blood serum. Experiment 4.using HE staining method to study micromorphological of the profile of spermatogenesis stage in the seminiferous tubule. Experiment 5.using HE staining method to study micromorphological of the diameter of cauda epididymis, also doing macroscopical and microscopical semen quality in the cauda epididymis. Result of the research showed that: 1. Sexual behavior that reflected the male white rat libido were: a. face to face meeting, b. moving close to wire net partition, c. scratching the wire net partition. 2.The optimal dose of pasak bumi resulted highest libido was 18 mg/200 g bw (body weight) compared with 100 mg/200 g bw, 200 mg/200 g bw, and the control (1 ml aquadest). 3. Basophyle cells increased significantly in the third day of pasak bumi administration; LH cells strongly significantly response to produce LH hormone within cells in the third day; FSH cells weakly response (non significantly) to produce FSH hormone within cells in the third day. 4. The level of testosterone in plasma increased significantly in the third day of pasak bumi administration. 5. The last spermatid actively increased in the third day. 6. The quality of semen in the cauda of epididymis increased significantly in the third day of pasak bumi administration.