Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Gonadal Changes in Sleep Deprivation Induced with Kolaviron in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

The Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis (HPGA) is a neuroendocrine pathway that majors in influencing the biosynthesis and regulation of sexual hormones (Testosterone for males, Oestrogen and Progesterone for females). These hormones are Jermaine in the developments of primary and secondary sexual characteristics in humans. Several studies posit that sleep deprivation interferes with the HPGA to impede its roles in the regulation of these hormones. Though adequate sleep has been reported to maintain optimal functional levels in various systems, the alternative to adequate sleep has remained elusive. To this point, this study sought to investigate the effects of ‘kolaviron extract’ on the HPGA. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five (5) groups of six (6) rats each [A=Control, B=Sleep Deprived (SD), C=Kolaviron Extract (KE), D=KE+SD, and E=KE+SD]. While groups D and E respectively received 100 mg/kg and 200mg/kg of extract in a sleep-deprived state, group C was given 200 mg/kg of extract without sleep deprivation. Groups A and B were each administered 1ml of the vehicle (1% tween 80 solution) in normal-sleep and sleep-deprived states respectively. Following a two-week period of administration of test substance for 14 days, animals were euthanized, weights measured (weekly while administration lasted) and blood samples collected for immunoassay of hormones and semen analysis (from harvested testes). At p < .05, Analysis of variance test (ANOVA) found Kolaviron extract to have significantly normalized the changes observed in the hormone levels by sleep deprivation. It is recommended that further studies be made to check the possible impact(s) of kolaviron on other parts of the brain, with electron microscopy to evaluate any ultra-structural changes in the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus.