Protective effect of PPARγ agonist pioglitazone, on testicular tissue and sperm parameters in hypothyroid rats

Abstract

Both thyroid hormones and PPARγ agonists are suggested to have some effects on the reproductive system. Here, the effects of pioglitazone on testicular tissue damages in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism were evaluated. Pioglitazone increased the number of sperm and volume and weight of the testis while, decreased TUNEL positive cells of 0.5% PTU-treated rats. Pioglitazone also improved thiol, superoxide dismutase, and catalase while decreased malondialdehude (MDA) in testicular tissue. Thus, pioglitazone appears to provide a protective effect against on testicular damages induced by PTU.

Keywords:

• PPARγ agonist
• pioglitazone
• testis
• hypothyroidism
• apoptosis
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgements

The presented results in this paper were extracted from the MSc student thesis and research protocol (951237) that was supported financially by the Vice Chancellor for Research, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Also, the authors would like to thank Mrs. F. Motejaded for her technical assistance and Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Vahedi for his assistance in preparing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.