The Effect of Leptin on Sex Hormones and Antioxidant Enzyme Levels in Obese and Normal Male Rats

Abstract

The correlation between leptin, nutritional status and reproductive performance is known but its effect on male obese is not fully elicited. So, the aim of the current study was to determine effect of leptin on sex hormones and antioxidant enzyme levels in obese and normal male rats male rats. A 144 male 2-month-old rats randomly divided into 8 experimental groups. Group 1 as normal rat without leptin injection, groups 2–4 normal rats were injected with 10, 20 and 40 µg/kg leptin. Group 5 obese rats without leptin injection, groups 6–8 obese rats injected with 10, 20 and 40 µg/kg. All animals received 16 injection of leptin for 32 days. At the end of the study, after 12 h food restriction, blood samples obtained, animal sacrificed then testis were carried out. Then testis leptin, FSH, LH and testosterone levels were determined. Serum and testis total antioxidant, MDA, SOD, GPx levels were determined. According to the results, leptin injection significantly increased tissue leptin, LH, FSH and testosterone levels (P 0.05). Serum total antioxidant levels increased in leptin-treated rat, but had no significant effect on tissue MDA, SOD and GPx levels compared to control group (P > 0.05). These results suggested leptin therapy improved sex hormone activity in obese rat, but no difference between obese and normal rat.