Co-administration of atorvastatin and piperine impairs fertility potential in male Wistar rats through disruption of cholesterol homeostasis and testosterone production

Abstract

Background Atorvastatin is administered to treat hyperlipidemia. The fruit of the black pepper plant contains the alkaloid piperine. Both atorvastatin and piperine are known to have hypolipidemic effects. The goal of the current investigation was to assess the effects of atorvastatin and piperine on reproductive potential in male Wistar rats. For this study, twenty rats were obtained and placed into four groups, each with five rats. Group I served as a control, group II animals are treated with atorvastatin (8 mg/kg BW), group III animals received piperine (10 mg/kg BW) and group IV animals were co-administered with piperine (10 mg/kg BW) and atorvastatin (8 mg/kg BW). All treatments were done by using oral gavage for consecutive 28 days and thereafter assessed for lipid profile, H-E staining, sperm parameter analysis, testosterone level detection using ELISA. Results The results showed that co-administration of atorvastatin and piperine (p < 0.05) significantly reduced weight of reproductive organs, changed histoarchitectural patterns of seminiferous tubules, epididymis, seminal vesicle. Serum and testicular cholesterol and testosterone levels of atorvastatin and piperine co-treated (p < 0.05) groups were found to decrease. Sperm count, motility and viability were decreased significantly in atorvastatin and piperine co-treated animals. Conclusion Results of this study revealed that consumption of piperine (active ingredient of black pepper) along with atorvastatin (lipid-lowering drug) have deleterious effects on reproductive potential of male rat.