LEAD EFFECTS ON PITUITARY-TESTICULAR AXIS IN GUINEA PIGS
Albana
Munga1, Ivana Dervishi2, Erjona Abazaj3
1Agricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,
Tirana, Albania
2Institute of Food Safety and Veterinary, Tirana,
Albania
3Institute of Public Health, Tirana,
Albania
albanamunga@yahoo.com
This
study analyzes lead effects in gonadotropins, testosterone, estradiol and
progesterone secretion. Lead was applied by intraperitoneal doses of
0.0036 mg/kg/day (TDI), 2,61 mg/kg/day (intermediate) and 4,95 mg/kg/day
(LD50–5%) to male mature guinea pigs during 60 days. The
hormones secretion profile and the lead accumulation were monitored
weekly by analyzing the blood samples. Lead exposure does not seem to
affect greatly estradiol, progesterone and LH secretion in blood but the
correlations in some cases result significantly. Different doses of lead
applied show different effects in testosterone secretion. Low dozes
increase testosterone concentration in blood (r = 0.78, α = 0.05) while high dozes decrease it
(intermediate dose r = –0.83, α
= 0.05 and LD50 – 5%, r
= –0.87,
α = 0.05). The secretion of FSH increases quickly with the application of
the highest dose (r = 0.93, α =
0.05). The high secretion of FSH while the testosterone secretion
decreases is an indicator of Leydig cells failure confirmed by
histological examination of testicules.
Key words: lead; estradiol;
progesterone; testosterone; LH; FSH
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