[Effects of oral administration of red pepper [capsicum annuum] and black pepper [piper nigrum] powders on plasma levels of pituitary - gonads axis hormones in male mice]

Background: Any types of pepper are widely used in traditional medicine. Secretion of pituitary-gonad axis hormones may affected by the pepper

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of black and red pepper on serum levels of Luteinizing hormone [LH], Follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and testosterone hormone was performed

Methods: 21 male NMRI mice were divided into three groups [n=7], consisting of a control group and two treatment groups receiving red pepper and black pepper, respectively. Treated groups received pepper powder mixed with pellet food at a ratio of 6/6% for one month. At the end of treatment, animals were anesthetized with chloroform and blood samples were collected from the heart directly. After separating the serum, LH, FSH and testosterone hormones were measured by ELISA method. Data statically evaluation using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test for ANOVA was performed and calculated

Results: Red pepper increased testosterone [P<0.01]. Red pepper and Black pepper increased FSH [P<0.001] and P<0.01 respectively] and have no effect on the LH levels. Hematocrit levels also increased in the treatment groups [P <0.001]

Conclusion: Oral intakes of red and black peppers powder have increasing impact on FSH and testosterone hormones. Therefore, these peppers may have androgenic properties. Increases in hematocrit may be the result of an increase in testosterone

[ effects of testosterone and gonadectomy conditions on nociception and their effect on morphine-induced analgesia in male mice, using the formalin test]

There are too many disagreements about the effects of gender and sex hormones on the behavioral responses to noxious stimuli and morphine analgesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the different effects of testosterone and gonadectomy conditions on pain and morphine-induced analgesia, using the formalin test. The present study was conducted at Razi University, in Kermanshah. Sixty three male NMRI mice were divided into nine groups [n=7]. The effects of gonadectomy and testosterone on responses to noxious stimuli were evaluated in five groups [G1 to G5]. The effects of these factors on morphine-induced analgesia were investigated in other groups [G6 to G9]. According to grouping, each group received normal saline, testosterone, testosterone solvent or morphine and some groups were also gonadectomized and separately received these agents. Finally, the formalin test was taken from all groups. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The results showed that the response to the painful stimuli had no significant difference in 5 minutes [acute pain] in all groups. Testosterone increased the response to the noxious stimuli in sub acute pain [10-30 minutes] and chronic phase [15-60 minutes] stages. This increase was significant in the group receiving testosterone compared with the gonadectomized group in both stages. In the presence of morphine, there were no significant differences in response to painful stimulus in 5 minutes [acute pain] in all groups. But testosterone in the presence of morphine caused an increased in pain score in sub acute pain [10-30 minutes] and chronic phase [15-60 minutes] stages. Testosterone increased the response to the painful stimuli in sub acute and chronic pain stages. Testosterone also reduced morphine-induced analgesia in peripheral and chronic pain stages in mice