OBJECTIVETo study the impact of glycosides of tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) on fertility, and the reversibility of this impact following intervention with cistanche deserticola (CD) and after withdrawal of GTW.

METHODSNinety adult male KM mice were equally and randomly divided into 9 groups: 5 GTW groups, treated with GTW at 45.0, 30.0, 22.5, 15 and 7.5 mg/kg x d, respectively, 2 CD groups, administered GTW at 30.0 and 7.5 mg/kg x d, respectively, a drug withdrawal group, given GTW at 30.0 mg/ kg x d, and a control group, given 1% CMC solution, all intragastrically for 20 days. Then they were mated with female mice at the ratio of 1:2 for 7 days, followed by another 20 days of medication, the GTW groups at the same doses, the CD groups given CD additionally at 10.0 g/kg x d and 2.5 g/kg x d respectively, and the withdrawal group given 1% CMC solution only. Again they were mated with the same females, and the pregnancy rate was observed after each mating.

RESULTSThe pregnancy rate dropped with the increase of the dose and medication time of GTW, which was 0% at 40 d in the 45.0 mg/kg x d GTW group (P < 0.01), but rose from 25% at 20 d to 55% at 40 d in the 10.0 g/kg x d CD group, and from 25% at 20 d to 56 % at 40 d in the withdrawal group.

CONCLUSIONThe reproductive toxicity of GTW acts on male mice in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which can be reduced by Cistanche deserticola. The fertility of the male mice can be restored to normal 20 days after the cessation of GTW.