Simultaneous Melatonin Administration Effectively Deprograms the Negative Influence of Neonatal Hypothyroidism on Immature Follicles but not on Mature Follicles and Body and Ovarian Weights

Abstract

Background: The impact of simultaneous melatonin administration on neonatal progmming by hypothyroidism (HPOT + MT) on adult ovarian functions and serum hormone profiles has been evaluated in the Charles foster strain of rats.

Methods: The female neonates were rendered hypothyroid (HPOT) by feeding lactating mothers with 6-propyl 2-thiouracil (PTU) through drinking water and were simultaneously administered with melatonin (MT) (40 g/animal/day) from day 0 to day 21 in the evening at 16:30 hours just prior to lights off.

Results: The experimental animals (HPOT + MT) consistently showed decreased body and ovary weights compared to controls. The total number of follicles was significantly lower in treated animals (HPOT + MT) but was greater than the HPOT group of animals, and both showed significantly decreased number of follicles compared to control rats. There was a significant reduction in the number of antral follicles and corpora lutea and decreased atretic follicles in experimental rats.

Conclusions: It can be concluded from the above results that melatonin is able to nullify the negative influence of hypothyroidism on adult ovarian functions and steroidogenesis to a greater extent.




J Endocrinol Metab. 2011;1(5):220-226
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jem54w