Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effects of polyglycosides from Tripterygium wilfordii(GTW) on proteinuria in a rat model of preeclampsia. Methods Preeclampsia was induced by subcutaneous injection of L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Controls received injections of saline. GTW was administered through intragastric injection. Rats were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: group A received L-NAME and GTW〔6 mg·(kg·d)^-1〕; group B received L-NAME and GTW〔3 mg·(kg·d)^-1〕; group C received L-NAME and vehicle; group D received saline and vehicle. Systolic pressure(SBP), 24-hour urine protein(UP) were measured respectively. Blood samples were obtained for measuring creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Newborn pups and placenta were weighed separately. Results Compared with group C, GTW significantly decreased the urine protein in pregnant rats. The creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in the L-NAME-treated groups were significantly increased. But there was no significant difference among the three groups. Compared with group C, body length and weight were significantly increased in group A and B, whereas there was no significant difference between the two groups. The mortality and incidence of malformation was significantly increased in L-NAME-treated groups, while there was no significant difference among the three groups. Conclusion GTW could reduce the amount of proteinuria in L-NAME induced preeclampsia rats. No adverse effect of GTW was observed on newborn pups.

Key words: preeclampsia, polyglycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii, nitric oxide synthase