[Resistant effect of water decoction of root of Crataegus cuneata on male infertility induced by GTW in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of water decoction of the root of Crataegus cuneata on infertility induced by multi-glucoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) in rats.


METHODS
Male adult rats were randomly divided into five groups, which were treated via gastric gavage of distilled water (1 mL x kg(-1)) , solution of GTW (10 mg x kg(-1)) and three doses of water decoction of root of C. cuneata (1.8, 5.4, 18 g x kg(-1)) + GTW (10 mg x kg(-1)), respectively. 8 weeks later, GTW was stopped and the decoction and water continued for another 4 weeks. And then, all the male rats were copulated with adult female rats. The rates of pregnancy, average numbers of embryos and luteum of female rats, relative weights of reproductive organs, sperm counts, sperm motility and viability were compared among all the groups. The histology and ultrastructure of testis and epididymis were observed, while the concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testostorone (T) in serum and T in testicular homogenate were detected by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Compared with those in GTW model group, the embryo numbers, the relative weight of testis and epididymis and sperm counts and motility in C. cuneata groups were increased obviously (P < 0.05). After treatment, the morphological damages of seminiferous tubules and sperms were recovered, while concentrations of T in testicular homogenate were also significantly increased (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
C. cuneata could relieve the reproductive lesions induced by GTW, and hence improve the uberty of the male infertile model rats.
Hu
Lian
L
Center of Reproductive Medicine, Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Xu
Hui-Min
HM
Xiong
Jin-Wen
JW
Tian
Yong-Hong
YH
Ming
Yu
Y
Xiong
Fen
F
Xiong
Cheng-Liang
CL
D000818:Animals; D027825:Crataegus / Q000737:chemistry; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005960:Glucosides; D013739:Testosterone