title: [Inhibitory effect of Qiangjing Tablets on the Fas/FasL pathway of cell apoptosis in male SD rats with infertility].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Models of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 10⁶/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 10⁶/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.
authors.forename: Pei-hai
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Di-ang
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Guang-sen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xiao-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Yao-dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: De-gui
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005854:Germ Cells; D006027:Glycosides; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013607:Tablets; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D029757:Tripterygium
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; C505662:Faslg protein, rat; D006027:Glycosides; D013607:Tablets