title: Khat (Catha edulis) lowers plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion, but increases cortisol levels in male rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effects of fresh khat extract on specific circulating hormones in male rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 25 male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into five groups each comprising five animals. The first four groups were fed four doses (1.5 g/kg, 4.5 g/kg, 13.5 g/kg and 40.5 g/kg body weight) of khat extract twice a week for 5 weeks while the last group, serving as control, was fed only normal saline via intragastric tube. Blood samples were collected at 15 min interval for up to 3 h after khat extract administration and plasma assayed for luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and cortisol levels using radioimmunoassay technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Khat extract at all doses significantly lowered (P<0.05) LH pulse frequency, area under LH curve, mean plasma LH and mean plasma testosterone levels. Plasma cortisol levels were significantly elevated (P<0.05) in khat-treated rabbits in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that khat may impair reproductive function in male rabbits by interfering with sex hormone profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya. kimungui2002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Nyongesa
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Onyango
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Odongo
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Wango
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029754:Catha / Q000737:chemistry*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone