Effect of propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism on reproductive efficiency of adult male rats

Abstract EN

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of hypothyroidism on reproductive efficiency of adult male rats.

Hypothyroid state was induced by administration of anti-thyroid drug propylthiouracil (PTU) (15 mg / kg b.w) orally by gavage for 45 days.

Twenty adult male rats of (146-200 gm) body weight were used in this study and divided into two groups : control group and PTU treated group.

At the end of the experimental period, the rats were euthanized via chloroform .

Blood was collected in order to determine serum levels of some hormones, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), triidothyronine (T3), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone(T).

Semen analysis was also done.

The results of hormones assay showed that there was a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the TSH while there were a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the serum concentrations of T4, T3, T, FSH and LH.

Semen analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the sperm count while there was a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the individual motility whereas; there was a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the abnormal and dead sperm.

Thus PTU-induced hypothyroidism can causes impairment of reproductive efficiency of adult male rats.