title: Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation delays male puberty and disrupts reproductive functions via hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis alterations.
abstract: The effects of maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation on pubertal timing, serum hormonal profile and sperm indices in the male offspring were assessed. Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups (n=5). Group 1 was administered subcutaneously 0.02ml/100g/day normal saline at lactation days 1-21. Groups 2-4 were administered subcutaneously 100μg/kg/day dexamethasone (Dex) at lactation days 1-7, 1-14, and 1-21 respectively. Results showed that there was significant reduction in serum testosterone in the DexLD 1-7 (p<0.05), DexLD 1-14 (p<0.01) and DexLD 1-21 (p<0.001) relative to control. In addition there was a significant reduction in serum FSH and LH in the DexLD 1-7 (p<0.01), DexLD 1-14 (p<0.001) and DexLD 1-21 (p<0.001) when compared with the control. Treatment with dexamethasone during lactation significantly increased the days of preputial separation in the DexLD 1-7 (p<0.05), DexLD 1-14 (p<0.05) and DexLD 1-21 (p<0.001) relative to control. Maternal treatment with dexamethasone throughout lactation period also significantly reduced sperm counts (p<0.001), motility (p<0.01) and increased percentage abnormal sperm (p<0.001) in the offspring when compared with the control. In conclusion, maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation may induce delayed puberty and disrupt reproductive functions by altering activities at hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the male offspring.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Reproductive Physiology and Developmental Programming, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Human Physiology, Cross River University of Technology, Okuku Campus, Cross River State, Nigeria. Electronic address: dhikrilat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Jeje
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Reproductive Physiology and Developmental Programming, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Akindele
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Reproductive Physiology and Developmental Programming, Department of Physiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raji
keywords: Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis; Puberty; Reproduction; Sperm indices