ABSTRACT
AIM To study the reproductive toxicity of Triptolide,one of the main components of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f,on male Caenorhabditis elegans,and its potential mechanism.METHODS Expose L4 larva of him-5 nematodes to 48 h 0.02,0.2,2.0 mg/L of Triptolide.The effect of Triptolide on the fertility of male C.elegans was assessed by crossing test,and the relevant mechanism was explored through measuring spermatids morphology development,spermatids activation,sperm motility and the relative mRNA expression levels of the related spermatogenesis genes.RESULTS Compared with the solvent control group,the 48 h Triptolide treatment induced significantly decreased brood size in 2.0 mg/L Triptolide group,significant reduction in spermatid diameter,spermatid cross-sectional area,rates of spermatid activation,rates of motile sperm in 0.2 and 2.0 mg/L Triptolide groups,and decreased expression levels of spe-10 in 0.02-2.0 mg/L Triptolide groups,decreased spe-15 in 0.2-2.0 mg/LTriptolide groups,and decreased fer-1 and folt-1 in 2.0 mg/L Triptolide groups as well.CONCLUSION Triptolide decreases expression levels of the related genes in spermatogenesis,contributes to an array of indicators inhibition,the spermatids morphology development,the sperm morphology and function development,which leads to decreased fertility of male C.elegans.Therefore,spermatogenesis damage is one of the main pathway that Triptolide adversely affects the fertility.