OBJECTIVETo explore the abnormal expressions of testicular reproduction-related genes induced by glycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) and the intervention with kidney-tonifying Chinese herbs.

METHODSAdult Balb/C male mice were fed on GTW at 30 mg per kg per d for 3 weeks to establish a model of reproductive dysfunction. The model mice were divided into different groups to receive intragastrical administration of saline (0.25 ml/d), GTW (30 mg per kg per d), Cistanche (10 g per kg per d), Rehmannia (10 g per kg per d), and Rehmannia + Cistanche (20 g per kg per d), respectively, once a day for 3 weeks. And a Cistanches pretreatment group was treated with GTW (30 mg per kg per d) and Cistanche (10 g per kg per d) for the same length of time. Then we detected the changed expressions of testicular reproduction-related genes Dzip1, Fas, c-jun and Wnt4 in each group.

RESULTSThe model mice showed an obviously down-regulated expression of the Y chromosome microdeletion-related gene Dzip1, and up-regulated expressions of the germ cell apoptosis-related gene Fas, proto-oncogene c-jun, and signal transduction-related gene Wnt4. Intervention with Chinese herbs achieved different degrees of improvement of the mice's reproductivity, and the most obvious efficacy was observed with the combined use of kidney-yang tonifying Cistanche and kidney-yin nourishing Rehmannia.

CONCLUSIONGTW exerts significant impact on reproduction-related genes. Both the kidney-yang tonifying drug Cistanche and kidney-yin nourishing drug Rehmannia can counteract some of the reproductive toxicity of GTW, while the combination of the two can further enhance the effect.