Alterations In Testosterone Levels Research Articles

Exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles induced reproductive toxicities in male Sprague Dawley rats

BackgroundThis research delves into the reproductive toxicology of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in male Sprague Dawley rats. It specifically examines the repercussions of Zn accumulation in the testes, alterations in testosterone levels, and histopathological changes in the gonadal tissues. AimsThe primary objective of this study is to elucidate the extent of reproductive toxicity induced by ZnO-NPs in male Sprague Dawley rats. The investigation aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the potential endocrine and reproductive disruptions caused by ZnO-NPs exposure. MethodsCharacterization techniques including SEM-EDX and XRD affirmed the characteristic nature of ZnO-NPs. Twenty-five healthy post weaning rats (200–250 g) were intraperitoneally exposed to different concentrations of ZnO-NPs @ 10 or 20 or 30 mg/kg BW for 28 days on alternate days. ResultsResults showed significant dose dependent decline in the body weight and testicular somatic index of rats. It also showed significant dose dependent accumulation of Zn in testis with increasing dose of ZnO-NPs. Conversely, serum testosterone level and sperm count were reduced with increasing dose of ZnO-NPs. Histological results showed dose dependent abnormalities i.e., vacuolization, edema, hemorrhage, destruction of seminiferous tubules, loss of germ cells and necrosis in rat testis. ConclusionThe findings of this study clearly indicate that high doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) can adversely affect the structural integrity and functional efficacy of the male reproductive system. Given these results, it becomes crucial to implement stringent precautionary measures in the utilization of ZnO-NPs, particularly in cosmetics and other relevant sectors. Such measures are imperative to mitigate the toxicological impact of ZnO-NPs on the male reproductive system and potentially on other related physiological functions. This study underscores the need for regulatory vigilance and safety assessments in the application of nanotechnology to safeguard human health.

The correlation of intratesticular testosterone with body mass index and smoking

Intratesticular testosterone plays a crucial role in male reproductive function and overall health. Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking are known lifestyle factors that can influence hormonal balances. Elevated BMI has been associated with alterations in testosterone levels, impacting male fertility and endocrine function. The aim was to examine the concurrent relationships between intratesticular testosterone, BMI, and smoking habits. Biopsies of the testicles were taken from 32 patients with non-obstructive azoospermia. Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) under spinal or general anesthesia was performed after a comprehensive history, physical examination, and investigations. After performing a minced biopsy and centrifuging the fluid, testicular fluid was extracted. The highest intratesticular testosterone levels were in normal patients and lowest levels in over weight patient; on the contrary the highest serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels were found in over weight patient and lowest levels in normal weight patients; There were insignificantly higher both intratesticular testosterone and 17- hydroxyprogesterone levels in non-smokers. In conclusion, the statistical analysis revealed that there is an insignificantly low correlation between intratesticular testosterone levels, BMI, and smoking.

Maternal perinatal exposure to bisphenol S induces an estrogenic like effect in glucose homeostasis in male offspring.

Bisphenol S (BPS) has been introduced into the industry as a safer alternative to bisphenol A (BPA). However, the recent studies have reported a possible association between BPS and disturbed glucose homeostasis, indicating that it may be a risk factor for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, the role of BPS in glucose metabolism remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the glucose metabolism of male Wistar rats born from dams that were BPS‐exposed (groups: BPS‐L (0.05 mg/kg/day), BPS‐H (20 mg/kg/day)) during pregnancy and lactation. We observed that both BPS treated groups of animals presented a significant decrease in anogenital distance/weight1/3, as compared to control animals, although no alterations in testosterone levels were observed. Furthermore, the BPS‐L group presented a significant decrease in body weight from postnatal day (PND) 21 to adult stage. In addition, a significant increase in glucose tolerance, pancreatic β‐cell proliferation, the frequency of small islets, and the average β‐cell size at PND 36 was observed in this group. However, no changes in insulin serum levels and percentage of β‐cells were recorded. Furthermore, these changes were not preserved at the adult stage (PND 120). The results suggest that the administration of low doses of BPS during the perinatal period induced an estrogenic like effect, with males apparently becoming more female‐like in their responses to a glucose challenge.

Drumstick activated charcoal tablets: Potential biosorbent material and its application to remove heavy metals via MATLAB assisted paper based sensor

Wastewater containing heavy metal ions is considered as the serious environmental problem in human society. Adsorption as the widely used method plays an important role in wastewater treatment, which is based on the physical interaction between metal ions and sorbents. Drumsticks are reported to have efficient adsorbing property. It has been found that Moringa causes alteration in testosterone levels, preventing testicular damage and hence is capable of protecting against the toxic effect of hazardous material. Based on this phenomenon of adsorption by Moringa species, we are trying to remove heavy metals from aqueous sample. The bio sorption of heavy metals by non-living biomass of plant origin is an innovative and alternative technology for the removal of the pollutants from aqueous solution and offers several advantages such as low-cost bio sorbents, high efficiency, minimization of chemical and/or biological sludge, and regeneration of the bio sorbent. Moringa oleifera (drumsticks) has a number of advantages including low cost, biodegradable sludge production and lower sludge volume, and also it does not affect the pH of the water. Apart from turbidity removal, Moringa oleifera seeds also possess antimicrobial properties. Amount of adsorption is considerably larger when activated charcoal is used. Thus, this work reports preparation of activated charcoal from drumsticks seeds and fibres. These are generally part of kitchen waste; thus, its preparation and utilisation for heavy metal toxicity not only controls water pollution but also help in reduction of kitchen waste. It will serve as an effective, cheap and robust and green tool for toxicity control. The paper reports the removal of heavy metal (Pb, Ni, Cd, As in this study) by application of prepared activated charcoal tablets via MATLAB assisted paper based sensors.These tablets will surely serve as point-of- care devices for removal of heavy metal toxicity.

Short-term effect of pharmacologically induced alterations in testosterone levels on common blood biomarkers in a controlled healthy human model

Testosterone deficiency in males is associated with serious comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes type two, and also an increased risk of premature death. The pathogenetic mechanism behind this association, however, has not yet been clarified and is potentially bidirectional. The aim of this clinical trial was to gain insight into the short-term effect of changes in testosterone on blood analytes in healthy young men. Thirty healthy young male volunteers were recruited and monitored in our designed human model. Blood sampling was performed prior to and 3 weeks after pharmacological castration with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist. Subsequently, testosterone replacement with 1000 mg testosterone undecanoate was given and additional blood samples were collected 2 weeks later. The alterations in the levels of 37 routine biomarkers were statistically analysed. Eight biomarkers changed significantly in a similar manner as testosterone between the time points (e.g. prostate specific antigen, creatinine and magnesium), whereas seven other markers changed in the inverse manner as testosterone, including sexual hormone-binding globulin, urea, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Most of our results were supported by data from other studies. The designed controlled human model yielded changes in known biomarkers suggesting that low testosterone has a negative effect on health in young healthy men.

Increased Testosterone Decreases Medial Cortical Volume and Neurogenesis in Territorial Side-Blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana)

Variation in an animal's spatial environment can induce variation in the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in spatial cognitive processing. Specifically, increased spatial area use is correlated with increased hippocampal attributes, such as volume and neurogenesis. In the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana), males demonstrate alternative reproductive tactics and are either territorial—defending large, clearly defined spatial boundaries—or non-territorial—traversing home ranges that are smaller than the territorial males' territories. Our previous work demonstrated cortical volume (reptilian hippocampal homolog) correlates with these spatial niches. We found that territorial holders have larger medial cortices than non-territory holders, yet these differences in the neural architecture demonstrated some degree of plasticity as well. Although we have demonstrated a link among territoriality, spatial use, and brain plasticity, the mechanisms that underlie this relationship are unclear. Previous studies found that higher testosterone levels can induce increased use of the spatial area and can cause an upregulation in hippocampal attributes. Thus, testosterone may be the mechanistic link between spatial area use and the brain. What remains unclear, however, is if testosterone can affect the cortices independent of spatial experiences and whether testosterone differentially interacts with territorial status to produce the resultant cortical phenotype. In this study, we compared neurogenesis as measured by the total number of doublecortin-positive cells and cortical volume between territorial and non-territorial males supplemented with testosterone. We found no significant differences in the number of doublecortin-positive cells or cortical volume among control territorial, control non-territorial, and testosterone-supplemented non-territorial males, while testosterone-supplemented territorial males had smaller medial cortices containing fewer doublecortin-positive cells. These results demonstrate that testosterone can modulate medial cortical attributes outside of differential spatial processing experiences but that territorial males appear to be more sensitive to alterations in testosterone levels compared with non-territorial males.

Altered testosterone levels associated with venlafaxine use: a case report

Sexual dysfunction is a frequent side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. However, accompanying the alteration in testosterone levels is uncommon. We present the case of a patient with major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder, whose symptoms were well-controlled with venlafaxine-extended release (150 mg/d). Because of low testosterone levels, the venlafaxine treatment was tapered off.

The effect of deployment to a combat zone on testosterone levels and the association with the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms: A longitudinal prospective Dutch military cohort study.

There is limited evidence on the association of the activity of HPG-axis with stress and symptoms of stress-related disorders. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of deployment to a combat zone on plasma testosterone levels, and the possible association with the development of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A total of 918 males were included in the study before deployment to a combat zone in Afghanistan. The effect of deployment on testosterone was longitudinally assessed; starting prior to deployment and follow-up assessments were preformed at 1 and 6 months after return. Furthermore, the association with PTSD symptoms reported at 1 and 2 years post-deployment was assessed. Plasma testosterone levels were significantly increased after deployment compared with pre-deployment levels. Although no difference was found between individuals reporting high or low levels of PTSD symptoms, pre-deployment testosterone levels predicted the development of PTSD symptoms at 1 and 2 years post-deployment. This study provides evidence that not the alterations in testosterone levels shortly after deployment, but the pre-deployment testosterone levels are associated with PTSD symptoms, which is of value in the identification of biological vulnerability factors for the development of PTSD.

422 Antitumor Activity of BAL27862 (active Moiety of the Prodrug BAL101553) is Associated with the Generation of Short Non-centrosomal Microtubules

Background: Docetaxel is used as first line chemotherapy for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). It has been reported that castrated men have substantially increased docetaxel clearance (CL) compared to uncastrated men treated for mCRPC (Franke et al, J Clin Oncol 28: 4562−7, 2010). These results were obtained from 20 castrated men, with 10 non-castrated men serving as controls. In this study, we aimed to validate these findings in a larger and independent cohort of patients. Material and Methods: All male patients treated within the context of a pharmacokinetic study (Dutch Trial Registry; NTR2311) with docetaxel for solid tumors were included in this analysis (n = 74). As chemotherapy alone does not result in alterations in testosterone levels, out of these 74 patients, all men with non-prostate tumors served as controls (n = 36) of the castrated mCRPC patients (n = 38). Five of these control patients received docetaxel in combination with SU014813 in a clinical phase I study, all other patients received monotherapy. SU014813 has no clinically relevant pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction with docetaxel (de Jonge et al, Eur J Cancer 47: 1328−35, 2011). Dosage ranged from 30mg/m to 100mg/m, given in different schedules. Plasma docetaxel levels were determined by HPLC or LC-MS/MS. Individual PK parameters were estimated from previously developed population PK models by non-linear mixed effects modelling using NONMEM software. P-values were calculated using an independent samples T-test, while linear regression analysis was used to adjust for age, ethnicity, body surface area, concomitant use of other anticancer drugs, and dose when analysing haematological toxicity. Results: In the castrated patients, there was an increased docetaxel CL compared to the CL of uncastrated men (48.4 L/h versus 42.1 L/h, P = 0.051). In addition, both absolute neutrophil count nadir (n = 66) and white blood cell count nadir (n = 68) were significantly higher in castrated patients during chemotherapy with docetaxel (4.1 versus 1.7 ×109/L, P = 0.003 and 5.3 versus 3.1×109/L, P = 0.016, respectively). Conclusions: Androgen deprived prostate cancer patients in this study show an increased CL. In addition, castrated patients show less pronounced haematological toxicity compared to the control group of uncastrated men treated with docetaxel. Adding these results to the existing knowledge provides a solid foundation for further investigations regarding the increase in clearance related to castration-status and also for the individualization of docetaxel treatment in male patients.

Epidermal growth factor receptors, testosterone levels and parotid gland changes in rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

It has been demonstrated that parotid glands of rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi present severe histological alterations; changes include reduction in density and volume of the acini and duct systems and an increase in connective tissue. We evaluated the association between morphological changes in parotid glands, circulating testosterone levels and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) expression in experimental Chagas disease in rats. Animals at 18 days of infection (acute phase) showed a significant decrease in body weight, serum testosterone levels and EGF-R expression in the parotid gland compared with a control group. Since decreases in body weight could lead to a reduction in circulating testosterone concentration, we believe that the reduction in EGF-R expression in parotid glands of infected rats is due to alterations in testosterone levels and atrophy of parotid glands is caused by changes in EGF-R expression. Additionally, at 50 days (chronic phase) of infection parotid glands showed a normal histological aspect likely due to the normalization of the body weight. These findings suggest that the testosterone-EGF-R axis is involved in the histological changes.

Obesity and Male Reproductive Potential

Obesity and Male Reproductive Potential

Testosterone and endurance exercise: development of the âεœexercise-hypogonadal male conditionâε□

During the last 30 years a large number of research studies have been conducted examining reproductive endocrine dysfunction in exercising women. The number of similar studies examining men is still relatively small. Nevertheless, an increasing amount of research studies in men indicate endurance exercise training has significant effects upon the major male reproductive hormone, testosterone, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis that regulates reproductive hormones. This review article addresses one reproductive endocrine dysfunction found in exercising men, what has been deemed the "exercise-hypogonadal male condition". Specifically, men with this condition exhibit basal (resting-state) free and total testosterone levels that are significantly and persistently reduced. The exact physiological mechanism inducing the reduction of testosterone is currently unclear, but is postulated to be a dysfunction (or perhaps a readjustment) within the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular regulatory axis. The time course for the development of the "exercise-hypogonadal condition" or the threshold of exercise training necessary to induce the condition remains unresolved. The potential exists for these reduced testosterone levels within the exercise-hypogonadal male to disrupt and be detrimental to some anabolic or androgenic testosterone-dependent physiological processes. Unfortunately, extremely few research studies have addressed whether such processes are affected, and thus findings are inconclusive. Conversely, the alterations in testosterone levels brought about by endurance exercise training have the potential for cardiovascular protective effects and thus could be beneficial to the health of these men. Current evidence suggests this condition is limited to men who have been persistently involved in chronic endurance exercise training for extended periods of time (i.e., years). Many questions, however, regarding the male reproductive endocrine adaptive process to exercise and exercise training remain unanswered, necessitating the need for further research on this topic.

Macrophage activation enhances the human chorionic gonadotrophin-induced disruption of spermatogenesis in the rat.

The objective of this study was to examine the role of intertubular macrophages in modifying the response of the rat testis to stimulation by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). The phagocytic activity of macrophages was stimulated by a unilateral intratesticular injection of polystyrene latex beads. Latex beads were engulfed by the resident macrophages and retained within their cytoplasm. Contralateral testes received injection of vehicle alone. A group of control rats was killed 3 days later; other groups received 100 IU hCG s.c. and the morphological and functional responses of the testes were examined 12, 24 and 48 h later. Spermatogenesis was unaffected in control rats, whereas in the testes of all hCG-treated rats leukocytes infiltrated into the intertubular tissue and the seminiferous tubules exhibited focal disruptions of spermatogenesis which were more severe in testes containing activated macrophages. Spermatogenic disruption was dependent upon the stage of the spermatogenic cycle, with the maximum tubule degeneration occurring at or near stages III and IX-XI. However these changes were not a consequence of androgen deprivation, since no consistent correlation was demonstrated between alterations in testosterone levels in testicular interstitial fluid and the accompanying damage to germ cells. It is concluded that hCG alone or in combination with activated macrophages induces an inflammatory-type response of the intertubular tissue and localized degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium. The antispermatogenic effects of hCG may have important implications for in-vivo investigations of Leydig cell function in laboratory animals and for the efficacy of hCG administration used in the clinical treatment of male hypogonadism.

Age-related changes in testes, seminal vesicles and plasma testosterone levels in male mice.

Determinations were made of testes and seminal vesicle weights as well as plasma testosterone levels in aging male mice of inbred strains DBA/2J and C57BL/6J. Results indicate that plasma testosterone levels are significantly higher in C57BL/6J mice than in DBA/2J, although at 2 months of age the latter strain exhibited significantly higher levels than the former. Of significant interest is the finding that both strains did not exhibit any significant alteration in testosterone levels during their adult life except at 2 months of age. Seminal vesicle weights differed significantly between the two strains only at 20 and 28 months. Suggestion is further made that body weight correction for weight of organs, such as testes and seminal vesicles, may be inappropriate; rather, the most appropriate adjustment of these organ weights to correct for correlations with body weight may be covariance analysis.