Theobromine induced seminiferous tubular lesion with elevated serum testosterone levels in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Concentrations of serum testosterone, albumin, transferrin, total serum protein and testicular histology of male albino wistar rats were evaluated following administration of 700mg/kg body weight theobromine in 0.5ml 14% sodium acetate for seven days. Theobromine administration produced significant increase in serum testosterone concentration (P < 0.05) and significant decreases in serum albumin and total serum protein (P < 0.05) when compared with the controls. The decrease in serum transferrin was not significant (P > 0.05) compared with the control and there were seminiferous tubular lesions. The results suggest in part, structural damage on the tubules which may affect its function but the extent to which its function is impaired is not known.

Keywords: theobromine, seminiferous tubular lesion, serum testosterone and proteins

Biokemistri Vol. 17(2) 2005: 123-128