ROLE OF ASCORBIC ACID ON ALTERED LEVELS OF TESTOSTERONE DURING CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

Background: Improvement in quality of life of cancer survivors has become a significant healthcare dilemma. Despite having important part in the support of spermatogenesis, few studies are conducted on Leydig cells secretion, i.e., testosterone which has an important role in fertility The objective of this study was to demonstrate altered serum testosterone levels by anthracycline on mice and to study changes observed in serum level in DOX affected mice with co-administration of antioxidant ascorbic acid. Methodology: Male mice aged five weeks were used. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 10 mice each. Animals in Group A were given normal saline intraperitoneally (IP). Group B mice were given DOX IP alone. In Group C, DOX and ascorbic acid were given orally. Blood samples were taken through cardiac puncture. Sera from centrifuged blood were tested for testosterone using ELISA kit. Results: Serum testosterone levels were 1.61±1.77, 6.22±4.78, and 1.98±0.45 ng /ml in Group A, B and C respectively. The administration of DOX induced significant increase (p<0.001) in the serum testosterone level. However co-administration of Ascorbic acid with DOX significantly reduced (p<0.001) the serum testosterone level. Conclusion: Ascorbic acid has a role against DOX induced altered hormonal levels.

Pak J Physiol 2022;18(2):3?5