Tripterygium Wilfordii Induced Female Mice Kidney Reproductive Dysfunction Animal Model Study

Objective : To study the pharmacological mechanism of reproductive hypofunction of female mature mice caused by GTW and establish female mice model of reproductive hypofunction.Methods: Method of vaginal smear was used to select 7～8 week-old female Kunming mice with regular estrous cycle. All the selected mice were randomly divided into 6 groups including GTW A, B, C, D, E group and the normal group. Five GTW groups were given GTW solution at the different dosage of 60mg/kg/day, 40mg/kg/day, 30mg/kg/day, 20mg/kg/day and 15mg/kg/day respectively , while the normal group were given physiological saline. Meanwhile estrous cycle of five GTW groups was observed everyday successively to infer the reproductive condition of mice affected by GTW. Three batches of mice were killed to study the effects of GTW on mice' s reproductive function according to the extent of changes of estrous cycle at the different time ie:â‘ some mice' s estrous cycle prolonged â‘¡all the mice' s estrous cycle prolonged, irregular â‘¢all the mice' s estrous cycle totally disturbed , even some disappeared. Serum E₂ and P level were measured by radioimmunoassay. Ovary and uterus index were measured by tissue-weight-assay. Histomorphology of Ovary and uterus were observed by pathological slicing.The number of follicle and corpus luteum with thickness of endometrium and myometrium were measured. Results: Estrous cycle of some mice in each GTW group was prolonged when given GTW for 5 weeks, and estrous cycle of all the mice was prolonged and irregular at 7 weeks. Estrous cycle of all GTW groups was in disturbance and even some disappeared when given GTW for 10 weeks. Three batches of mice were killed at these three periods. GTW could not decrease E₂ and P level as well as ovary index and the number of follicle and corpus luteum at 5 and 7 weeks. Uterus index and thickness of endometrium and myometrium of group A were decreased at 7 weeks. When given GTW for 10 weeks, uterus index and the number of follicle and luteum were decreased significantly, and thickness of endometrium and myometrium also became obviously thinner than the normal group(with P <0.05 or 0.01). These changes were obvious in group A , B and C. E₂ level of group A and B was decreased (with P<0.05). P level and ovary index of all GTW groups were not decreased at 10 weeks. Conclusion: 1.GTW with the dosage of 60mg/kg/day, 40mg/kg/day and 30mg/kg/day can damage female mice' s reproductive function to certain extent when being used for 10 weeks. All the changes accord with reproductive hypcfunction of kidney deficiency. 2. GTW with the dosage of 30mg/kg/d for 10 weeks is advised to establish female mice model of low reproductive function.