Arecoline inhibits pineal–testis function in experimentally induced hypothyroid rats

Abstract

Arecoline is known to cause endocrine dysfunction. In the current article role of arecoline on pineal-testis activity was investigated in hypothyroid rats induced by propylthiouracil (PTU). PTU treatment caused thyroid dysfunction ultrastructurally with a fall in T and T levels followed by a rise of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Pineal activity was impaired by PTU treatment, as evident from degenerated synaptic ribbons and mitochondria of the pinealocytes with depletion of pineal and serum N-acetyl serotonin and melatonin levels. Leydig cell function was suppressed, evident from reduced smooth endoplasmic reticulum and depletion of testosterone level. Sex accessories function was impaired by showing scanty rough endoplasmic reticulum with depletion of fructose and sialic acid levels. Arecoline treatment that caused pineal dysfunction and testicular stimulation in control rats, suppressed both pineal and testis functions after PTU treatment. The findings suggest that arecoline inhibits pineal-testis function in experimentally induced hypothyroid rats.

Hypothyroidism: morphological and metabolic changes in the testis of adult albino rat and the amelioration by alpha-lipoic acid

“…SHBG is accountable for the transfer of testosterone from the testis to brain tissue, where free testosterone is dissociated and crosses the blood-brain barrier, to induce negative feedback on LH biosynthesis and its secretion [26]. Propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism significantly decreased serum levels of both T3 and T4 while increasing TSH level [36]. To better understand the pathological effects of hypothyroidism on testicular tissues, the oxidant-antioxidant state was studied in the testicular tissues.…”

Identification of novel biomarkers and candidate small molecule drugs in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis based on bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput data

“…Arecoline (methyl-1, 2, 5, 6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-nicotinate) is an alkaloid isolated from Areca catechu, and it is considered as the major effective constituent of A. catechu [24,25]. Recently research investigated the potential pharmacological and toxic effects of arecoline [26,27]. The main toxic effects of arecoline are oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and genotoxicity [28][29][30].…”

DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Arecoline

“…behavior somatic effects endocrine functions antidepressant activity, 43 motor restlessness, 44 reduced conditioned avoidance, 45 amnesia, 46 reduced exploration, 46 impaired spontaneous locomotion 99 and other behaviors, 100,101 reduced ethanolinduced impairment of the righting reflex 41 and sleep induced by phenobarbital, 102 potentiated morphine-evoked hyperactivity and behavioral sensitization 42 sister-chromatid exchanges in bone-marrow cells, 103 increased level of hepatic CYP2E1 protein, 104 elevated cGMP concentrations of the cerebellum and the cerebrum, 105 arrested splenic lymphocyte cell cycle and induced apoptosis, 106 direct muscarinic effect on the renal tubules (saluresis) 107 hypoglycemia, elevated glycogen level, 108 hypothyroid condition in metabolic stress, 109 inhibition of pineal-testis function, 110 stimulation of testosterone production by acting directly on Leydig cells. 111 Various nutrosamines, including N-nitrosoguvacoline, 3-(methylnitrosamino)propionitrile, and 3-(methylnitrosamino)propionaldehyde, 26−28 have been thought to form from areca alkaloids in the mouth, causing cancer in humans.…”