Effect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Importantly, percentages of motile sperm
cells were also enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) paralleled the
serum testosterone pattern from the supplement groups as compared to
the control group. Taken together, these results indicate that
supplementation with CM improves sperm quality and quantity in rats.

Am J Chin Med. 2008;36(5):849-59.

Chang Y, Jeng KC, Huang KF, Lee YC, Hou CW, Chen KH, Cheng FY, Liao JW, Chen YS.

Jenteh Junior College of Medicine and Nursing Management, Miaoli, Taiwan.

Cordyceps
species have been traditionally used as for the enhancement of sexual
function, but its direct evidence is lacking. We investigated the
spermatogenic effect of Cordyceps militaris (CM) as supplementation
with CM mycelium to 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Ninety
rats (30 for each group) were selected to regular diet or diet
supplemented with CM mycelium (1% and 5%) for 6 weeks. Epididymal sperm
were collected from 6 animals per group at each interval of
observation. They were allowed to recover for one week. The quality and
quantity of sperm were compared in these rats. The CM supplementation
resulted in an increase of serum cordycepin concentration (n = 6, each
group) that correlated with treatment time and the cordycepin level was
significantly higher (p < 0.05) in 5% group as compared to 1% group
at the 5th and 6th week. Epididymal sperm count was enhanced
significantly from the control, at the 5th week and peaked at the 6th
week in both groups supplemented with CM (each time point, n = 6; p
< 0.05) and maintained for 2 weeks after stopping the treatment.
Increased serum testosterone and estradiol-17 (E2) concentrations were
found in rats with the CM supplementation (p < 0.05), but not other
hormones such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing
hormone (LH) or prolactin.