Effects of testosterone enanthate treatment in conjunction with resistance training on thyroid hormones and lipid profile in male Wistar rats

The medicinal activity of lyophilized aqueous seed extract of Lepidium sativum L. in an androgenic alopecia model

This study evaluated the topical effect of Lepidium sativum lyophilized seed extract (LSLE) towards Sustanon-induced alopecia in male adult Wistar albino rats in vivo, compared to minoxidil topical reference standard drug (MRD). LC-MS/MS together with molecular networking was used to profile the metabolites of LSLE. LSLE treated group revealed significant changes in alopecia related biomarkers, perturbation of androgenic markers; decline in testosterone level and elevation in 5α-reductase (5-AR); decline in the cholesterol level. On the other hand, LSLE treated group showed improvement in vascular markers; CTGF, FGF and VEGF. Groups treated topically with minoxidil and LSLE showed significant improvement in hair length. LC-MS/MS profile of LSLE tentatively identified 17 constituents: mainly glucosinolates, flavonoid glycosides, alkaloids and phenolic acids. The results point to the potential role of LSLE in the treatment of alopecia through decreasing 5(alpha)-dihydrotestosterone levels. Molecular docking was attempted to evaluate the probable binding mode of identified compounds to androgen receptor (PDB code: 4K7A).

Does Tribulus terrestris L. affect hormonal responses following high-intensity resistance exercise?

Study aim: To investigate the effect of a 2-week supplementation with Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) on the responses of testosterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones including triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) following an intensive session of resistance exercise (RE).

Materials and methods: Twenty-two healthy non-athlete men (23.8 ± 3.1 years) participated in this study were divided into two groups and were randomly assigned to receive either TT supplementation (n = 11) or a placebo (n = 11). They consumed two 250-mg capsules with TT or placebo (maltodextrin) per day and performed six REs with the intensity 80-90% of 1RM on the fifteen day of the experiment. Venous blood samples were drawn before supplementation, and before and after the RE session.

Results: The mean values of post-exercise testosterone and cortisol in both groups were significantly higher than pre-exercise and baseline (p < 0.01); however, there were no significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). Likewise, despite a trend toward different levels of the responses of thyroid hormones with TT supplementation, there were no significant differences either in different time points or the groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Short-term supplementation with TT appears to be ineffective in changing the hormonal responses measured in this study following a session of high-intensity RE.

Boldenone undecylenate disrupts the immune system and induces autoimmune clinical hypothyroidism in rats: Vitamin C ameliorative effects

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of boldenone undecylenate (BL) abuse alone and in combination with vitamin C (VC) on the immune responses and thyroid structure and function in rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five equal groups and were subjected to various treatment regimens for eight weeks as follows: control group, vehicle control group, VC group orally received VC (120 mg/Kg BW/day), BL-treated group intramuscularly injected with BL (5 mg/kg BW, once/week), and BL+VC group received BL and VC. At the end of this experiment, blood and tissue samples (thyroid, thymus, and spleen) were subjected to hematological evaluation, biochemical analysis, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examinations. In comparison to controls, BL significantly increased the levels of serum proinflammatory interleukins (IL-1 β and IL-6), immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), and complement 3 but reduced anti-inflammatory interleukin-10, lysosome, and nitric oxide. Besides, altered platelet count and leukogram were evident in BL-injected rats. BL notably disturbed thyroid profile as revealed by a significant increase of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroid peroxidase antibody. In contrast, both total and free forms of thyroid hormones (tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine), thyroglobulin, and thyroid peroxidase, were significantly decreased. Moreover, BL caused histopathological changes in the thyroid, thymus, and spleen tissues.CD4⁺ immuno-expression was reduced, but CD8⁺ immunolabelling was increased in both spleen and thymus. The daily dosing of VC to BL-exposed rats significantly corrected most of the deviations in immune parameters. It restored most of the thyroid architecture and function, revealing a significant protective effect of this vitamin. This experimental study demonstrates that BL abusing disrupts the immune system by different mechanisms and addresses BL, for the first time, as an autoimmune clinical hypothyroidism inducer drug. Additionally, VC is helpful in the management of BL abuse.

The thyroid hormone levels and glucose and lipid metabolism in children with type 1 diabetes: a correlation analysis

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is common in clinical setting, the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T1DM remains unclear. We attempted to analyze the correlation of thyroid hormone levels and blood glucose and lipid metabolism in children with normal thyroid function.

METHODS

Children with T1DM were selected, and 85 healthy children who underwent physical examinations in our hospital as control group. The characteristics and laboratory testing results were compared, the correlation of thyroid hormone levels with blood glucose and blood lipids was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 167 participants were included. the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc) in T1DM patients were higher than those in healthy controls, while the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) in T1DM patients were lower than that of healthy children (all P<0.05). TSH was positively correlated with LDL-C (r=0.169, P=0.032), TC (r=0.182, P=0.017) and TG (r=0.197, P=0.008), negatively correlated with FBG (r=-0.196, P=0.023) and HbAlc (r=-0.328, P=0.002). FT3 was negatively correlated with TG (r=-0.182, P=0.011), FBG (r=-0.184, P=0.009) and HbAlc (r=-0.223, P=0.005). TG in the high TSH group and the middle TSH group is higher than that of low TSH group. However, FBG and HbAlc were lower than those in the low TSH group (all P<0.05). Compared with the low FT3 group, the TG, FBG and HbAlc decreased in the high and middle FT3 group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The serum TSH are closely associated with FT3 and glycolipid metabolism in children with T1DM, which may be the useful indicators to assess the severity of T1DM in clinical settings to provide insights into the management of T1DM.

Alteration of Testosterone Levels Changes Brain Wave Activity Patterns and Induces Aggressive Behavior in Rats

Testosterone is responsible for several changes in the brain, including behavioral and emotional responses, memory, and cognition. Given this, we investigated changes in the brain wave profile caused by supplementation with exogenous testosterone in both castrated and non-castrated rats. We also investigated the serum testosterone levels, renal and hepatic function, and the lipid and behavioral profiles. We found changes in the spectral wave power in both groups (castrated and non-castrated animals) supplemented with exogenous testosterone, consistent with an aggressive/hostile profile. These changes were observed in the electrocorticographic evaluation associated with increased power in low-frequency (delta and theta) and high-frequency (beta and gamma) activity in the supplemented animals. The castrated animals presented a significant decrease of wave power in the alpha frequency. This correlated with a decrease of the performance of the animals in the elevated plus-maze evaluation, given that the alpha wave is linked to the execution and visualization of motor processes. In the behavioral evaluation, the castrated animals presented a reduced permanence time in the elevated-plus maze, although this was prevented by the supplementation of testosterone. Testosterone supplementation induced aggressive behavior in non-castrated animals, but not in castrated ones. Supplemented animals had significantly elevated serum testosterone levels, while their urea levels were significantly lower, but without clinical significance. Our data indicate that testosterone supplementation in non-castrated rats, but not in castrated ones, causes electrocorticographic changes that could be associated with more aggressive and hostile behavior, in addition to indicating a potential for personality disorder. However, further studies are required to elucidate the cellular and molecular changes caused by acute testosterone supplementation.