Effects of cocaine hydrochloride on the male reproductive system
The reproductive system effects of cocaine were studied in male rats. The analysis included measurements of circulating levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The weights of the testes and sex accessory organs were also assessed and compared with control animals. Dosage level, duration of treatment, and interval between injection and sacrifice were the parameters examined. Following a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection, LH levels decreased over a 3-hour period. At a high dosage, cocaine caused a significant elevation in serum T followed by a significant depression of T for at least 2 hours. When administered chronically for 15 days, the low dose group did not vary significantly from the vehicle controls. However, the high dose group had lower LH and T levels, as well as correspondingly lighter weight seminal vesicles and epididymus. No changes were noted in the weights of the ventral prostate or testes. This research suggests that cocaine acts primarily at the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis with a possible secondary action at the gonadal level.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5728983
- Journal Information:
- Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 45:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COCAINE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
LH
BIOSYNTHESIS
TESTES
SENSITIVITY
TESTOSTERONE
MALES
PROSTATE
RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
RATS
ALKALOIDS
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANESTHETICS
ANIMALS
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
BIOASSAY
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DRUGS
GLANDS
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IMMUNOASSAY
IMMUNOLOGY
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS
RADIOASSAY
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RODENTS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SYNTHESIS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques