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The increase in the frequency of exposure to gasoline fumes and the growing incidence of infertility among humans has been a major concern and subject of discussion over the years in Nigeria. We therefore present the reproductive effect of gasoline fumes on inhalation exposure in 40 male albino rats. The rats were randomized into five experimental treatments (T) with eight rats per treatment. T1 (control) was exposed to distilled water while T2, T3, T4, and T5 were exposed to gasoline fumes in exposure chambers for 1, 3, 5, and 9 h daily respectively for 12 weeks. Serum level of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, oxidative stress markers in the testicular tissue, epididymal sperm health assessment, and testicular histopathology of the rats were used as a diagnostic marker of reproductive dysfunction. Significant (p < 0.05) alterations in the levels of all the reproductive hormones and oxidative stress markers assayed were observed in rats exposed to gasoline fume. Significant reductions (p < 0.05) in sperm count and percentage motility in the exposed rats were observed. Significant (p < 0.05) increased in abnormal sperm cells characterized by damaged head, bent tail, damaged tail, and without head were also observed in the exposed rats. Histopathologically, severe degenerative testicular architectural lesions characterized by alterations in all the generations of sperm cells and reduction of interstitial cells were seen in the exposed rats. Gasoline fume is thus said to interfere with spermatogenesis and impair fertility in male gonad.

Background Prostate cancer (PrCa) is a malignant tumour of the prostate that has many associated risk factors. There is continuous rise in the incidence among adult blacks which is a reflection of racial differences in testosterone concentrations. Methods The study involves 50 PrCa patients attending or referred to two tertiary health Institutions and 25 healthy men as controls. Weight and height of participants were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Ten millilitres of venous blood sample was collected from each participant, allowed to clot, and then centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 5 min at room temperature (22–28 °C) to obtain the serum. Serum cortisol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA), free prostate-specific antigen (FPSA), selenium, copper, magnesium, and zinc were determined. Prostate ultrasonography and biopsy were also done for histopathological studies. Result From this study, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in weight, BMI, serum FPSA, TPSA, and copper; a non-significant increase (p > 0.05) in serum cortisol, testosterone; a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum LH, selenium, zinc, and magnesium; and a non-significant decrease (p > 0.05) in serum FSH were observed among people living with PrCa when compared to the controls. However, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the height between the two groups. Ultrasonography and histology revealed evidence of prostatitis, hypertrophy, and carcinoma among the test group. Conclusion It can be concluded that PrCa is associated with increase serum cortisol, testosterone, and copper; and decreased serum LH, FSH, selenium, zinc, and magnesium concentrations and combination of biochemical, ultrasonographic, and histologic features are of diagnostic importance.