ABSTRACT
Chronic administration (sc) of the extract of the stalk of P. betle at 30 mg/kg body weight daily for 21 days produced significant decrease in oestrogen and androgen dependent target organ weights along with increase in cholesterol in adrenal, ovary and testis. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in serum, liver and kidney did not exhibit any toxic effect. There was marked change in morphology of testis and ovary. Vaginal smear showed prolonged dioestrus in treated female. The treated male showed decreased number and motility of sperm. Both male and female remained infertile after treatment suggesting antifertility activity of the extract on both sexes of albino rats.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Fertility/drug effects , Male , Ovary/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rats , Testis/drug effectsABSTRACT
The study of thyroid function in clinical conditions associated with the disorders of the hypothalamio-pituitary-adrenocortical axis indicated overt hypofunction of thyroid in all the three cases of Cushing's disease and subclinical hypo-or low normal function of thyroid in most of the cases of adrenogenital syndrome. It was suggested that hypo or low normal function of thyroid might facilitate excess elaboration of ACTH through CRF by swaying the balance of neurotransmitters at hypothalamus in favour of serotonin.