title: Furazolidone treatment suppresses pubertal testosterone secretion in male broiler breeder birds (Gallus domesticus).
abstract: We determined the effect of chronic administration of furazolidone (Fz) on sexual maturation of male broiler breeder birds (Ross 308; Gallus domesticus). A total of 20 15-w-old birds were randomly assigned to receive 0, 150, 250 or 350 mg Fz/kg feed daily for 5-w. Blood samples were taken at weekly intervals. The birds were challenged with 500 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) i.v. at the age of 24 w before slaughtering. Concentration of testosterone in the plasma was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay. Testicular tissue was processed for morphometric studies. Testicular weights of the groups fed 250 or 350 mg Fz/kg feed/d were decreased (P < 0.05). Plasma testosterone levels were affected by age (P < 0.001) and dose of Fz (P < 0.001). Mean plasma testosterone levels during and after drug administration were reduced (P < 0.05) by all Fz doses. Human chorionic gonadotropin administration led to poor testosterone response (P < 0.05) in all Fz-dosed groups, but not the control group (P < 0.05). As compared to the control, Fz-dosing reduced the seminiferous tubule diameter (P < 0.05) at the 350 mg/kg feed dose, seminiferous epithelial height (P < 0.05) at the 250 and 350 mg/kg feed doses, and Leydig cell nuclear diameter (P < 0.05) at the 350 mg/kg feed dose. This data suggest that sexual maturation in male broiler breeder birds is adversely affected by chronic Fz-administration. Actions of Fz on sexual maturation probably involve a direct effect at the testicular level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Andrabi
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D002645:Chickens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011897:Random Allocation; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D005664:Furazolidone