Author/Authors :
Rahmati، Batool نويسنده Neurophysiology Research Center Rahmati, Batool , Ghosian Moghaddam، Mohammad Hassan نويسنده Department of Biochemistry, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , , Khalili، Mohsen نويسنده , , Enayati، Ehsan نويسنده Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , , Maleki، Maryam نويسنده Shahed University, Tehran, Iran , , Rezaeei، Saeedeh نويسنده Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: Opioid consumption has been widely increasing across the globe; however,
it can cause adverse effects on the body. Morphine, an opioid, can reduce sex hormones
and fertility. Withania somnifera (WS) is a traditional herb used to improve sexual
activities. This study strives to investigate the effect of WS on sex hormones and gonadotropins
in addicted male rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, forty-eight male National Maritime
Research Institute (NMRI) rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group,
ii. WS-treated control group, iii. Addicted group, and iv. WS-treated addicted group. Water-
soluble morphine was given to rats for 21 days to induce addiction, concurrently the
treated groups (2 and 4) also received WS plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%). At the end
of the treatment, the sex hormone and gonadotropin levels of the rats’ sera were determined
in all the groups.
Results: Except for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), morphine reduced most of the
gonadotropin and sex hormone levels. Whereas WS caused a considerable increase in
the hormones in the treated addicted group, there was only a slight increase in the treated
control group.
Conclusion: WS increased sex hormones and gonadotropins-especially testosterone, estrogen,
and luteinizing hormone-in the addicted male rats and even increased the progesterone
level, a stimulant of most sex hormones in addicted male rats.
