Blood Plasma Levels Of Testosterone Research Articles

Endocrine and behavioral effects in male rats after birth with their pregnant mother taking ibuprofen

Ibuprofen, a non-selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, is one of the most used non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and pain relievers. Its effect on developing fetal neuroendocrine system when taken by a pregnant mother does not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term consequences of the administration of ibuprofen to pregnant rats with regard to hormonal profile and sexual differentiation of the brain in male offspring. Pregnant rats were given ibuprofen per os in a dose of 30 mg/kg bw twice a day during days 15-21 of gestation. On the 2 and 10 postnatal days (PND), anogenital distance (AGD) was measured in male pups. In adulthood, sexual behavior, hormone levels, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) response to acute immobilization stress were studied. Prenatal ibuprofen increased AGD on PND 2 and caused incomplete masculinization of copulative behavior in adult offspring. Significant increases in the latent periods of the first mount, the first intromission, and a decrease in the number of intromissions were observed. Basal blood plasma levels of testosterone, estradiol, and corticosterone, as well as HPAA response to immobilization stress, did not change. Orchidectomized and primed with estradiol and progesterone males did not exhibit lordosis response to the presence of a sexually experienced male. Conclusion: Administration of ibuprofen to female Wistar rats during the last week of gestation disrupts partially neuroendocrine programming of male-type copulative behavior in male offspring with no changes in female-type sexual behavior and HPAA function. It is hypothesized that incomplete masculinization of the developing fetal brain with ibuprofen is due to two co-operative mechanisms: inhibition of synthesis of testosterone in the fetal gonads and prostaglandin E2 in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus.

Assessing chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients: Blood plasma factors and cortisol saliva

Objective. The aim of this study was to identify changes in inflammatory molecules in the blood (plasma) of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic syndrome (CP/CPPS) compared with controls. Altered levels indicate a systemic component by possible involvement of the prostate and/or the inner pelvic floor musculature. Material and methods. In 32 patients with CP/CPPS and 37 controls, blood plasma levels of testosterone, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF-β, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-1β were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cortisol in saliva samples was measured in the morning and late evening. All participants answered a questionnaire regarding their health profile. Results. Significantly higher levels of MIF (p = 0.012) were detected in patients. The testosterone level was, contrary to other studies, little lower in patients (p = 0.014; age adjusted). When controls with health issues and patients with a parallel disease were excluded, the MIF and TNF-α levels were higher in the patients (p = 0.007, p = 0.016, respectively) than in controls, and the testosterone was slightly lower in patients (p = 0.047). Conclusions. The findings show an immune response extending to the circulatory system, in which MIF makes a significant contribution to CP/CPPS. This study also indicates TNF-α as a circulatory component when excluding subjects with concomitant diseases. Both MIF and TNF-α have previously been highlighted for other diseases related to chronic pain and here also for CP/CPPS. These results provide further insights into the immunological basis of CP/CPPS.

The ultrastructural changes of the sertoli and leydig cells following streptozotocin induced diabetes.

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of diabetes on the structure and function of testicular tissue. Diabetes was induced in male adult rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Body and testicular weight, hormonal analyses, histological and ultrastructural analyses were measured. The body and testicular weights were dropped significantly (P< 0.05) in diabetic rats in comparison with control rats. On the other hand, in diabetic rats, the blood glucose level increased significantly (P< 0.05). The blood plasma levels of testosterone, 17-β estradiol, progesterone, FSH and LH were reduced in diabetic rats. Histomorphological studies were revealed reduction in diameter of seminiferous tubules and germinal epithelium height, edema in interstitial tissue, germ cell depletion, decrease in cellular population and activity with disruption of spermatogenesis in diabetic rats. Ultrastructural study showed the mitochondrial change and reduction of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in Sertoli and presence of lipid droplets in Leydig cells of diabetic rat's testes. The results of the present study confirmed that, the ultrastructural changes of Sertoli and Leydig cells, brought about by streptozotocin induced diabetes, because of the alterations in pituitary gonadotropins, and these changes influence the normal spermatogenesis in rats.

Effects of Chronic Stress during Puberty on Reproductive System of Female Rats with Experimental Hyperandrogenicity

Effects of chronic stress (daily 30-min immobilization) on 35-45 days of life and its combination with androgenization (implantation of testosterone-containing capsules on 33rd day of life) on reproductive system of 2.5 month old female rats were studied. The term of sexual maturation, estrous cycles regularity and structure, blood plasma levels of testosterone, progesterone and androstenedione as well as ovarian histology were examined. Androgenization resulted in the blood plasma testosterone level increase and the androstenedione level decrease, development of oligo- or anovulatory condition characterized by disorders or discontinuation in estrous cyclicity. We also detected abrupt reduction or absence of postovulatory luteal bodies, cysts formation and ovarian interstitial tissue overgrowth. All experimental animals had normal blood plasma corticosterone level. Stressed rats had no considerable changes in reproductive system except of some cyclicity disorders. Stressed against androgenization rats demonstrated delayed pubescence, an increased number of ovarian cysts along with attenuation ofandrogenization-caused negative effects on the sexual cyclicity.

Effect of Prostaglandins A-1, E-2 and F-2a on Blood Plasma Levels of Testosterone, LH and FSH in Male Rats

Effects of the administration of PGs A-1, E-2 and F-2 alpha (150 micrograms/rat b.i.d. for 10 days) were studied. Significant increase in testicular weight was observed only in PGE-2 treated group. Testicular ascorbic acid content reduced significantly by treatment with all the PGs. PGE-2 treatment caused a significant decrease in the content of testicular cholesterol, while no change was observed in the same and prostatic acid phosphatase activity in any of the PG treated groups. Blood plasma levels of testosterone drastically reduced by both PGE-2 and PGF-2 alpha, while there was no change in the levels of plasma LH in any of the groups. Plasma FSH levels increased significantly in PGA-1 treated rats only. The results suggest that 1) There is a direct action of PG particularly PGE-2 on testicular weight. PGE-2 increases testicular weight possibly by preventing degeneration of spermatids, 2) PGE-2 acting directly on the testis, reduces testicular ascorbic acid content, stimulates the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone but depresses the conversion of the latter to testosterone.

Morpho-physiological predictors of ovulatory success in captive striped bass ( Morone saxatilis)

This study evaluates morpho-physiological characters as predictors of ovulatory success in cultured striped bass, Morone saxatilis, that could be used by farmers to select females for induced spawning. Diameter, size homogeneity and growth of ovarian follicles; blood plasma levels of testosterone (T), oestradiol-17β (E 2) and vitellogenin (VTG); and in vitro maturation of oocytes, in response to a combination of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I, 100 nM) and 17,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20β-S, 290 nM) were examined for females prior to spawning induction and compared with their subsequent ovulatory response. Fish spawning within 8 days of implantation with pelleted analogue of mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa; [ d-Ala 6-des-Gly 10-NEt]-LHRH) were considered to have given a satisfactory maturational response. The in vitro assay was the most reliable predictor for ovulatory success. All fish whose oocytes completed final oocyte maturation (FOM) in vitro in response to the combination of IGF-I and 20β-S spawned, whereas, 12 out of 13 fish, whose oocytes did not complete FOM in vitro, failed to spawn within 8 days of GnRHa treatment. The in vitro assay was field-tested on commercial farms, and correctly identified all four females that spawned out of the eight females that were given hormone treatment. Among the other measurements, follicle diameter best differentiated between fish that later spawned and those that did not spawn. Plasma T concentrations were greater on average in fish that spawned, but the technical complexity of the assay and overlap in T concentrations between fish that spawned and those that did not limits the value of this measurement to farmers. There was no significant difference in follicle size homogeneity, follicle growth over the 2-week period prior to hormone treatment, or plasma levels of E 2 and VTG between fish that spawned and those that did not.

Prostaglandins in semen and their relationship to male fertility: a study of 145 men

Prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha and PGE were measured in 163 semen samples from 145 men attending our male infertility clinic. In addition, each semen sample was analyzed for 13 different fertility parameters. Blood plasma levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were also determined in many of the patients. The data obtained were then analyzed using multiple regression analyses on each PG for all of the parameters studied. The results indicate seminal PGF2 alpha and PGE concentrations were 2.78 +/- 0.24 micrograms/ml and 46.0 +/- 4.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. The seminal parameters that were significant predictors of seminal PGF2 alpha included: Ca++ concentration (P less than 0.001), Zn++ concentration (P less than 0.01), and percentage of tapered sperm (P less than 0.05). The seminal parameters that were significant predictors of seminal PGE included: Ca++ concentration (P less than 0.01) and sperm motility (P less than 0.05). Plasma testosterone was also a significant predictor of seminal PGE (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that seminal PGs are important to the human male fertility potential in that their levels are significantly interdependent with specific parameters of male fertility.

Effects of aspirin on blood plasma levels of testosterone, LH and FSH in maturing male rats.

Effects of aspirin administration (5 mg/100 g body weight) for various days were observed on the hormonal levels of maturing male rats. Aspirin was given orally every day for 8, 15, 22 and 30 days. No change in the weights of testes, epididymis, prostate or seminal vesicles was observed after treatment. While aspirin administration for 8 days caused an increase in the plasma testosteone level with decrease in both LH and FSH levels, prolonged treatment for 15 days and more produced a reverse effect, viz. decrease in plasma testosterone and increase in plasma LH and FSH levels. Testicular ascorbic acid content was found to decrease on the 15th and the 22nd day of treatment. Testicular cholesterol was increased after 22nd and 30th days of treatment. Prostatic acid phosphatase activity decreased in all the treated groups. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.