Alcohol-induced histopathology and reproductive hormone imbalance in rats.

E. C. Adegor¹, C.P. Aloamaka¹, E.K. Nwangwa¹ and F.I. Achuba²

¹Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka (Nigeria) ²Department of Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka (Nigeria)

ABSTRACT: The present investigation aim to study the effects of alcohol on reproductive hormones and gonads in rats. Method: 25% ethanol at a dose of 0.015ml/g body weight was given intraperitoneally for six weeks, at an interval of four days to adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. At the end of the treatment period, the treated animals were sacrificed at the end of the treatment, and the testes and ovaries were collected for histopatholigical analysis, as well as haematological and seven analysis. Results: Alcohol caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of male and female reproductive hormones: testosterone, estrogen and progesterone in exposed rats, as compared to the controls as well as the litter size and litter weight. The quality of the semen was adversely affected, so also the quality of the histology of the gonads. Conclusion: Alcohol produced infertility in treated rats by adversely affecting the gonads and reproductive hormones.

KEYWORDS: Alcohol; ovaries; testes; testosterone; progesterone; estrogen

[ HTML Full Text]