This study is designed to evaluate the effect of hypothyroidism on reproductive efficiency of adult male rats. Hypothyroid state was induced by administration of anti-thyroid drug propylthiouracil (PTU) (15 mg/kg b.w) orally by gavage for 45 days. Twenty adult male rats of (146-200gm) body weight were used in this study and divided into two groups: control group and PTU treated group. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were euthanized via chloroform . Blood was collected in order to determine serum levels of some hormones, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), triidothyronine (T3), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone(T). Semen analysis was also done.
The results of hormones assay showed that there was a significant increase (P≤0.05) in the TSH while there were a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the serum concentrations of T4, T3, T, FSH and LH. Semen analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the sperm count while there was a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the individual motility whereas; there was a significant increase (P≤0.05) in the abnormal and dead sperm. Thus PTU-induced hypothyroidism can causes impairment of reproductive efficiency of adult male rats.