Effects of aflatoxin B1 on profiles of gonadotropic (FSH and LH), steroid (testosterone and 17β-estradiol) and prolactin hormones in adult male rat

Aflatoxins (AFs) are natural contaminants of feed and feedstuffs, thus the study of the noxious effects of
these agents on the male reproductive system is of outstanding importance. Our aim for this study is the
evaluation of the effects of oral administration of aflatoxin B1 on the reproductive hormonal changes in adult male rat. Twenty eight Wistar strain male rats were selected for this study. The rats were divided into 4
groups, viz, control (C), test groups (T1, T2, and T3). The toxin doses were prepared in sterile distilled water
at 0.8 ppm, 1.6 ppm, 3.2 ppm, and administered through oral gavages, 1 ml/animal/day to groups T1, T2, and T3, respectively for 48 days and each animal of group C was gavaged with 1 ml/day sterile distilled water. The hormonal assays were carried out using ELISA biochemical kits for serum FSH, LH, prolactin
testosterone and 17β-estradiol. Results showed that, the levels of serum LH and testosterone were lower
(P<0.001), but conversely the levels of FSH and prolactin were higher (P<0.001) in the test groups. The level
of 17β-estradiol was affected by significantly falling (P<0.01) only in group T3. We conclude that, the oral
administration of the aflatoxin B1 strictly alters the concentrations of FSH, LH, prolactin, and testosterone in
male Wistar rats.