| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 7
| Issue : 2 | Page : 59-64 |
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NG -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester protects against hormonal imbalances associated with nicotine administration in male rats
Ibukun P Oyeyipo1, Y Raji2, Adeyombo F Bolarinwa2
1 Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Physiology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
2 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Ibukun P Oyeyipo
Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
 Source of Support: The authors are grateful to the Education Trust
fund (TETfund) Nigeria for funding this research., Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.152080
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Background: The administration of nicotine is associated with altered hormonal imbalances and increased serum and testicular nitric oxide (NO) level. Aim: This study sought to investigate the effects of NO inhibition with NG -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on altered hormonal imbalance in adult male albinorats. Materials and Methods: Rats were administered with 0.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 1.0 mg/kg BW nicotine and were treated with L-NAME in the drinking water or drinking water alone for 30 days. Serum was analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin using radioimmunoassay. Results: Nicotine administration significantly decreased (P < 0.05) testosterone in the low and high dose treated groups and FSH in the high dose treated group when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean LH and prolactin level in the high dose treated group when compared with the control. Concomitant treatment with nicotine and L-NAME produced significant increases in testosterone and FSH, and a decrease in prolactin in 1.0 mg/kg BW. L-NAME alone did not lead to a significant increase in testosterone when compared with control. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that the suppressive effects of nicotine on testosterone level of the adult male rat can be prevented by NOS blockade with L-NAME. It appears that these beneficial effects are mediated primarily within the gonad; however, the involvement of the pituitary cannot be totally ruled out. |
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