Antispermatogenic effect of Tripterygium wilfordii and tripchlorolide (T4) on rat gametogenesis and spermatozoa.
The multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii (TII), a ready-made Chinese herbal medicine used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, have been shown to cause oligospermia in patients. In the present study, the antifertility effects of TII and tripchlorolide (T4, isolated from TII) were observed in male rats. In rats fed with TII at a dose of 10 mg.kg.d for 7 weeks, the seminiferous tubules were essentially not influenced. However, most of the sperm heads along the surface of the tubular lumen were transformed from the normal sickle-shaped to round shaped, suggesting a possible mutagenic action. There was minimal testicular change but prominent epididymal spermatozoa damage in all rats treated with T4 (0.05 mg.kg.d) for 7 weeks. The epididymal spermatozoa showed various structural abnormalities, including disrupted connecting pieces and cracked midpieces, and more than 80% of the spermatozoa were decapitated. No significant changes were seen in the main visceral organs. The data suggest that T4 may have good prospects as a male contraceptive.
Ye
W
W
Department of Histology and Embryology, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
Den
Y
Y
Huang
Y
Y
Xue
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000988:Antispermatogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D029757:Tripterygium
D000988:Antispermatogenic Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C068051:tripchlorolide