title: Effects of toosendanin on pregnancy and uterine immunity alterations in mice.
abstract: This study was conducted to explore the abortifacient effect and the mechanisms of the Chinese herbal medicine component toosendanin, and to elucidate the significance of the Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the occurrence of abortion. Graded doses of toosendanin were given by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) to mice at day 5, 6, 7 of gestation. The levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) in serum and uterine tissues from mice sacrificed at day 8 were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Presence of T lymphocytes in endometrium was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results revealed that injection of toosendanin could produce a dose-dependent toxicity. The IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha content in serum and uterine tissues were increased significantly. The CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were also increased in the endometrium of toosendanin treated groups. In conclusion, toosendanin is pregnancy-toxic to animals and it is relevant to the increased contents of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: College of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Hebei, Dingzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Lou
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wang-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Ai-Tuan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiu-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014315:Triterpenes
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C036454:toosendanin; D014315:Triterpenes