title: Effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes on serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels and the structure of seminiferous tubules in hyperglycemic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes, a blood glucose lowering plant in folk medicine of Iran, on the structure of seminiferous tubules and serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels in hyperglycemic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups (n=6): control, streptozotocin (STZ), STZ + insulin [STZ + Ins, 5 IU/(kg•day)], and STZ + Launaea acanthodes extract [STZ + Ext, 150 mg/(kg•day)]. Blood samples were collected at the 2nd and 4th weeks for detection of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and the right testes of rats were removed at the 7th week for the evaluation of diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells using unbiased stereological techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, at the 2nd week FSH (0.45 vs 0.03, 0.02, 0.02 IU/L in STZ, STZ + Ins and STZ + Ext groups, respectively) and LH (1.02 vs 0.37, 0.2, 0.29 IU/L) showed significant decreases (all P<0.05) and testosterone (4.2 vs 8.37, 7.78, 11.8 ng/mL) showed a remarkable increase (all P<0.05). The levels of these hormones became closer in the STZ + Ext and the STZ + Ins groups to the control at the 4th week. A significant decrease in diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells were observed in the STZ group as compared with the control (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of Launaea extract demonstrated a beneficial impact on the protection of testis from pathogenic and degenerative effects of hyperglycemia which may be partly due to its potential antioxidative effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Fredowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ameneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Fredowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. behnam@ferdowsi.um.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behnam-Rassouli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Fredowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Momeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Fredowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahdavi-Shahri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006062:Gonadotropins; D007328:Insulin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D013739:Testosterone; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Launaea acanthodes; gonadotropins; hyperglycemia; rat; testis; testosterone