AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN ADULT MALE RATS WITH THYROID DISTURBANCE

This study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of selenium on reproductive efficiency of adult male rats with thyroid disturbance. Hypothyroidism state was induced by administration of antithyroid drug propylthiouracil (PTU) (50mg/kg.B.W.) and hyperthyroid state was induced by administration of LThyroxine(L-T4) (50μg/kg.B.W.). Selenium (Se) treated rat group was given sodium selenite (10 μg/kg.B.W.). Sixty adult male rats of (180-200 gm) body weight were used in this study and divided into six main groups. Control group, PTU treated group, L-T4 treated group, Se treated group, Se+PTU treated group and Se+L-T4 treated group. All these groups were drenched orally by gavage tube for two months. The obtained results revealed that hypothyroidism is accompanied by significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum T3, T4 concentrations compared with control and another treated groups and significant increase (P<0.05) in hyperthyroidism group a compared with control. On the other hand, TSH concentration showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in hypothyroidism group and significant decrease (P<0.05) in hyperthyroidism group as compared with control and another treated group. A significant decrease in serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone have been shown in serum of hyper- and hypothyroidism groups. Semen analysis showed a significant decrease (P≤0.05) of epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility, and viability and a significant increase (P≤0.05) of sperm22 abnormalities were recorded in PTU and L-T4 groups compared with control and another treated group. While a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) of epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility and viability and a significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) of sperm abnormalities were recorded in Se alone, Se+PTU group and Se+L-T4 group. Also, histological examination on the testis showed that rats treated with Se, Se+PTU and Se+L-T4 had normal architecture of seminiferous tubules with different stage of spermatogenesis. Whereas, rats treated with L-T4 alone or with PTU exhibited vacuolation of spermatogonia and suppression of spermatogenesis.