Tripterygium glycosides impairs the proliferation of granulosa cells and decreases the reproductive outcomes in female rats.
This study was carried out to investigate the impact of tripterygium glycosides (TGs) on ovarian function of female rats in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies showed that TG induced cells decrease at G1 phase and inhibited cell proliferation in rat granulosa cells. In vivo, female rats were intragastrically administered with TG at the dose of 60 mg/kg/day for consecutive 50 days. TG caused a prolonged estrous cycle, and a significant reduction in ovarian index, serum E2 level, and numbers of secondary and antral follicles (p < 0.05) in these rats. A significant reduction of viable embryos was demonstrated in TG-treated female rats after mating (p < 0.01). Further, we observed observed the reduced expression level of TGF-β1 after TG treatment in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the expression of Smad2 and AKT was also decreased after TG treatment. These results suggest that TG can impair ovarian function through Smads-mediated TGF-β1 signal pathway.
Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing City, China.
Jing
J
Su
Jie
J
Cheng
Hai-Xiang
HX
Sun
Zhen-Yu
ZY
Diao
Xin
X
Zhen
Jun
J
Yang
Li-Jun
LJ
Ding
Ya-Li
YL
Hu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D056742:Cyclin D2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000633:toxicity*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*
C486197:Ccnd2 protein, rat; D056742:Cyclin D2; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D006027:Glycosides; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497784:Smad2 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C001899:triptolide
TGF-β1; granulosa cells; ovary; tripterygium glycosides; triptolide