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Nitric oxide synthase inhibition with L-NAME ameliorates nicotineinduced reproductive organ decrease in male rat

Ibukun P Oyeyipo, Yinusa Raji and Adeyombo F. Bolarinwa

Testicular integrity is compromised during illness or infection leading to temporary or permanent infertility and studies have associated elevated nitric oxide (NO) with infertility. This study was designed to investigate the effect of inhibiting nitric oxide synthase on nicotine-induced reproductive organ decrease in male rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats (160-180g) were randomly assigned to six groups and treated orally for 30 days with saline (control), nicotine (0.5mg/kg, 1.0mg/kg) with or without NG Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L- NAME, 50mg/Kg). At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and their productive organs were removed and weighed immediately. There was no significant difference in the mean body weight of the experimental group. Testicular and epididymal weight was significantly decreased in the nicotine treated groups. Serum testosterone level was also significantly decreased in a dose-related manner in nicotine-treated groups. However, co-treatment with L-NAME effectively reversed the nicotine-mediated alterations in weight of reproductive organs and testosterone when compared to nicotine only. Taken together, the present data indicate the abilities of L-NAME to ameliorate nicotine-induced testicular and epididymal alteration in male rats.