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Objective To evaluate the effects of Chinese medicine Yijing Fang on sperm quality in varicocele rats. Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups including sham operation control group (n=10), varicocele model group (n=10) and Yijing Fang treatment group (n=10). The rats in the treatment group was given with Yijing Fang once a day for 8 weeks. Semen quality of rats were analyzed, and spermatogenic cells, sperm DNA fragmentation rate, malondialdehyde (MDA), and other indicators were studied by HE staining, TUNEL staining and ELISA. Results Compared with that in the model group, the Johnson score of testicular varicocele rats in Yijing Fang treatment group was increased (9.2±0.51 vs 8.1±0.42 P<0.05); Sperm viability was also increased (59.81±5.27 vs 53.32±4.95 P<0.05), whereas the content of MDA in epididymis (7.53 ± 1.86 vs 10.40 ± 2.58 mmol/g P<0.05), sperm DNA fragmentation rate (13.30±2.39 vs 18.36±3.29 % P<0.01), the apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells were all decreased (2.87±1.21 vs 5.2±1.74 % P< 0.05). Conclusion Chinese medicine Yijing Fang can improve the sperm quality of varicocele rats, and its anti-oxidative effect may play an important role in testicular protection of varicocele rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]