Effect of Nicotine on Reproductive Hormones in Adult Male Mice (Mus musculus)

S. Sharif*, N. Fatima, T. Farasat and A. A Latif

Department of Zoology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to determine the direct effect of nicotine administration on reproductive hormones in adult male mice (Mus musculus). Adult mice (n=60) were randomly divided into two groups viz. experimental (n=40) and control (n=20) groups. Experimental group was injected with nicotine subcutaneously (1mg/ kg body weight); whereas, the control group was administered with normal saline solution subcutaneously for 6 weeks. At the end of six weeks, blood was collected to determine the concentrations of luteinizing hormone and testosterone using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that nicotine significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone in the experimental group compared to the control group. It was concluded that intake of nicotine may cause some deleterious effects on reproductive hormones in mice.

Key words: Nicotine, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, mice

Corresponding author:
ssharif1978@yahoo.com