Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41995009›Full record

ArticleAsian journal of andrology2026

Effects and mechanism of low-intensity pulsed ultrasounds on testicular steroidogenesis in rats.

Xianghu Meng, Feng Zhou, Majken Højrup Wiborg, Caipeng Qin, Lia Banie, Weerayut Wiriyabanditkul, Guifang Wang, Guiting Lin, Tom F Lue

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Asian journal of andrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Xianghu MengKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Feng ZhouKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Majken Højrup WiborgKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Caipeng QinKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Lia BanieKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Weerayut WiriyabanditkulKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Guifang WangKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Guiting LinKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.
Tom F LueKnuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94134, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has emerged as a non-invasive therapeutic approach with regenerative potential in various tissues. This study explores its effects on testicular steroidogenesis in male rats. Twenty-four 9-month-old rats were allocated into three groups: control, LIPUS, and LIPUS-M. The LIPUS group underwent pulsed ultrasound therapy targeting the testes twice weekly for 4 weeks, whereas the LIPUS-M group continued with maintenance therapy administered once every 2 weeks for 6 months. At the end of the experiment (16 months), blood and testicular tissues were collected for analysis. Our results showed that LIPUS therapy significantly elevated serum testosterone level and increased the number of Leydig cells (LCs), as indicated by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) and 3 β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 β -HSD) immunofluorescence. Collagen IV staining showed increased interstitial vascularization, and senescence-associated β -galactosidase (SA- β -Gal) staining suggested reduced cellular senescence. Although the LIPUS-M group also showed increased LC counts and angiogenesis, serum testosterone levels were not elevated. These findings demonstrate that LIPUS can activate LCs and enhance endogenous testosterone production, supporting its potential as a noninvasive regenerative approach for hypogonadism.

Indexed as

Leydig CellsTestisTestosteroneUltrasonic TherapyUltrasonic Waves3-Hydroxysteroid DehydrogenasesAnimalsMalePhosphoproteinsRatsRats, Sprague-DawleySteroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein3-Hydroxysteroid DehydrogenasesPhosphoproteinsSteroidogenic Acute Regulatory ProteinTestosteronehypogonadismLeydig cellslow-intensity pulsed ultrasoundregenerative therapytestosterone

Identifiers

PMID41995009
PMCPMC13623305

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.