Prolactin and pituitary-gonadal function in cigarette smoking infertile patients

Marijuana Is Associated With a Hormonal Imbalance Among Several Habits Related to Male Infertility: A Retrospective Study

Marijuana is one of the most consumed drugs worldwide. There is increasing evidence of an association between marijuana and male infertility. This study intends to assess the repercussion of marijuana smoking and other habits (sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, and tobacco use) in the testicular function of infertile men seeking andrological evaluation. A retrospective study was performed using medical records data of men aged 18-59 years from 2009 to 2017. Complete semen analyses, sperm functional tests, SHBG, and hormonal levels, testosterone-to-estradiol ratio (T/E2), and testis volume were evaluated. Exclusion criteria included cryptorchidism, infertility caused by genetic or infectious diseases, and cancer. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to investigate which habit could predict certain parameters using the software SPSS 23.0 (P < 0.05). In a sample of 153 men, semen parameters, testosterone levels, and testis volume were not significantly influenced. Marijuana use had the broader hormonal changes since it influences estradiol (P = 0.000; B = -11.616), prolactin (P = 0.000; B = 3.211), SHBG levels (P = 0.017; B = 7.489), and T/E2 (P = 0.004; B = 14.030). Sedentary lifestyle (P = 0.028; B = 1.279) and tobacco smoking (P = 0.031; B = -2.401) influenced the prolactin levels. Marijuana is associated with hormonal imbalance in this infertile cohort by lowering estradiol levels and inhibiting aromatase function.

From sperm to offspring: Assessing the heritable genetic consequences of paternal smoking and potential public health impacts

Individuals who smoke generally do so with the knowledge of potential consequences to their own health. What is rarely considered are the effects of smoking on their future children. The objective of this work was to review the scientific literature on the effects of paternal smoking on sperm and assess the consequences to offspring. A literature search identified over 200 studies with relevant data in humans and animal models. The available data were reviewed to assess the weight of evidence that tobacco smoke is a human germ cell mutagen and estimate effect sizes. These results were used to model the potential increase in genetic disease burden in offspring caused by paternal smoking, with specific focus on aneuploid syndromes and intellectual disability, and the socioeconomic impacts of such an effect. The review revealed strong evidence that tobacco smoking is associated with impaired male fertility, and increases in DNA damage, aneuploidies, and mutations in sperm. Studies support that these effects are heritable and adversely impact the offspring. Our model estimates that, with even a modest 25% increase in sperm mutation frequency caused by smoke-exposure, for each generation across the global population there will be millions of smoking-induced de novo mutations transmitted from fathers to offspring. Furthermore, paternal smoking is estimated to contribute to 1.3 million extra cases of aneuploid pregnancies per generation. Thus, the available evidence makes a compelling case that tobacco smoke is a human germ cell mutagen with serious public health and socio-economic implications. Increased public education should be encouraged to promote abstinence from smoking, well in advance of reproduction, to minimize the transmission of harmful mutations to the next-generation.

Cigarette smoking and testosterone in men and women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Recently Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration warned about the cardiovascular risk of testosterone, making environmental drivers of testosterone potential prevention targets. Cotinine, a tobacco metabolite, inhibits testosterone breakdown. We assessed the association of smoking with testosterone in a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching PubMed and Web of Science through March 2015 using ("testosterone" or "androgen" or "sex hormone") and ("smoking" or "cigarette"). Two reviewers independently searched, selected, assessed quality and abstracted with differences resolved by consensus or reference to a third reviewer. The initial search yielded 2881 studies; 28 met the selection criteria. In 22 studies of 13,317 men, mean age 18-61years, smokers had higher mean testosterone than non-smokers (1.53nmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 1.96) using a random effects model with inverse variance weighting. In 6 studies of 6089 women, mean age 28-62years, smoking was not clearly associated with testosterone (0.11nmol/L, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.30). Fixed effects models provided similar results, but suggested a positive association in women. Whether products which raise cotinine, such as e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement, also raise testosterone, should be investigated, to inform any regulatory action for e-cigarettes, which emit nicotine into the surrounding air, with relevance for both active and passive smokers.

N (G)-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester Protects Against Hormonal Imbalances Associated with Nicotine Administration in Male Rats

Background:

The administration of nicotine is associated with altered hormonal imbalances and increased serum and testicular nitric oxide (NO) level.

Aim:

This study sought to investigate the effects of NO inhibition with N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on altered hormonal imbalance in adult male albinorats.

Materials and Methods:

Rats were administered with 0.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 1.0 mg/kg BW nicotine and were treated with L-NAME in the drinking water or drinking water alone for 30 days. Serum was analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin using radioimmunoassay.

Results:

Nicotine administration significantly decreased (P < 0.05) testosterone in the low and high dose treated groups and FSH in the high dose treated group when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean LH and prolactin level in the high dose treated group when compared with the control. Concomitant treatment with nicotine and L-NAME produced significant increases in testosterone and FSH, and a decrease in prolactin in 1.0 mg/kg BW. L-NAME alone did not lead to a significant increase in testosterone when compared with control.

Conclusion:

These data demonstrate that the suppressive effects of nicotine on testosterone level of the adult male rat can be prevented by NOS blockade with L-NAME. It appears that these beneficial effects are mediated primarily within the gonad; however, the involvement of the pituitary cannot be totally ruled out.

Nicotine alters male reproductive hormones in male albino rats: The role of cessation

OBJECTIVES

The use of nicotine through smoking remains a serious health problem. It has been associated with reduced fertility, although the mechanism responsible is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate whether nicotine-induced infertility is associated with altered male reproductive hormones in male albino rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty male rats were divided equally into five groups and treated orally for thirty days. Group I, which served as the control received 0.2 ml/kg normal saline, Group II and III received 0.5 mg/kg (low dose) and 1.0 mg/kg (high dose) body weight of nicotine, respectively. The fourth and fifth groups were gavaged with 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg body weight of nicotine but were left untreated for another 30 days. These groups served as the recovery groups. Serum was analyzed for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), and prolactin using radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

Results showed that nicotine administration significantly decreased (P < 0.05) testosterone in the low and high treated groups and FSH in the high dose treated group when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in mean LH and prolactin level in the high dose treated group when compared with the control. However, the values of the recovery groups were comparable with the control.

CONCLUSION

The findings in this study suggest that nicotine administration is associated with distorted reproductive hormones in male rats although ameliorated by nicotine cessation. It is plausible that the decreased testosterone level is associated with testicular dysfunction rather than a pituitary disorder.

Effects of smoking on plasma testosterone level and erectile function in rats

INTRODUCTION

There have been several conflicting reports of the effects of smoking on plasma testosterone levels and erectile function in clinical and animal studies.

AIM

This study was conducted to determine the actual effects of smoking on plasma testosterone levels and erectile function in rat-smoking models.

METHODS

For the exposure to cigarette smoke, the rats in a cage had a constant influx of smoke using a specially constructed device. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for the acute cigarette exposure were allocated randomly into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Thirty-six SD rats for the chronic cigarette smoke exposure were randomly divided into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

After exposure to smoking, the rats were subjected to electrical field stimulation of the cavernosal nerve to assess the erectile function, and blood was collected to measure the levels of plasma thiocyanate, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. The histological changes of testes and corpora cavernosum (CC) were examined.

RESULTS

In the smoking groups, the thiocyanate levels were significantly higher than in the control group. Also, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly higher in the smoking groups, but the corpora cavernosal filling rate and maximal intracavernosal pressure/MAP were significantly lower than in the control group. The testosterone levels of experimental groups were significantly lower than those of control group, and the testosterone and thiocyanate levels were significantly correlated with erectile function components in chronic smoking groups. There was no significant histological change in the testes; however, in the CC, there was an increase in collagen fibers and decrease in smooth muscle and sinusoidal space in chronic smoking groups.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that both the vasoconstrictor effects of smoking and the decrease in testosterone levels after chronic smoking had some effects on erectile function in rats.

Association between tobacco exposure and reproductive parameters in adolescent males

Cigarette smoking is quite prevalent in the general population but our knowledge of its effect on male reproductive function is still very limited. Therefore, we investigated the impact of tobacco exposure on reproductive characteristics in young males. Military conscripts, 217 non-smokers and 85 smokers, with a median age of 18 years were enrolled. Physical examination and semen analysis, including measurement of accessory sex gland markers and reproductive hormone levels, were performed. Lifestyle-associated factors, including maternal smoking during pregnancy and snuffing, were recorded. Non-smokers had 49% higher total sperm number than smokers (95% CI 4.5-112%, p = 0.01). In addition, sperm concentration was 37% higher among non-smokers (95% CI -4% to 95%, p = 0.08). Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were 17% higher among non-smokers (95% CI 3-33%, p = 0.02), whereas no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers were found for inhibin B, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, luteinizing hormone and oestradiol. Those who smoked >10 cigarettes per day exhibited 37% lower (95% CI 10-69%, p = 0.005) FSH levels than those who smoked less. Maternal smoking during pregnancy had a negative impact on epididymal and seminal vesicle marker secretion. Smoking seems to impair sperm production and epididymal as well as accessory sex gland function and could be one of the factors contributing to regional differences in sperm parameters.

Is smoking a risk factor for decreased semen quality? A cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggest a deleterious effect of cigarette smoking on semen quality, but their results have not been consistent. We studied the association between current smoking and semen characteristics and hormonal levels in a large group of healthy men.

METHODS

From 1987 to 2004, seven separate occupational or environmental semen quality studies were co-ordinated by our department. A total of 2562 men participated, each providing semen and blood sample and answering a questionnaire about lifestyle and factors related to health. Appropriate semen and smoking data were available for 2542 men.

RESULTS

Adjusting for study, age and other covariates, we observed an inverse dose-response relation between smoking and semen volume, total sperm count and percentage motile sperm. Heavy smokers had a 19% lower sperm concentration than non-smokers. We found a positive dose-response relationship between smoking and testosterone, LH and the LH/free testosterone ratios.

CONCLUSION

Current smoking in adult life moderately impairs the semen quality. It is well known that semen quality is associated to fecundity. Therefore, it would be sensible to advise men to abstain from smoking to avoid decreased fecundity.

Smoking and hormones in health and endocrine disorders

Smoking has multiple effects on hormone secretion, some of which are associated with important clinical implications. These effects are mainly mediated by the pharmacological action of nicotine and also by toxins such as thiocyanate. Smoking affects pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, testicular and ovarian function, calcium metabolism and the action of insulin. The major salient clinical effects are the increased risk and severity of Graves' hyperthyroidism and opthalmopathy, osteoporosis and reduced fertility. Smoking also contributes to the development of insulin resistance and hence type 2 diabetes mellitus. An important concern is also the effect of smoking on the foetus and young children. Passive transfer of thiocyanate can cause disturbance of thyroid size and function. Furthermore, maternal smoking causes increased catecholamine production, which may contribute to under perfusion of the foetoplacental unit.

Effects of cigarette smoking on semen characteristics of a population in Mexico

A study of semen quality was conducted in 197 smoking and 161 non-smoking men undergoing initial infertility investigation. The men were allocated into groups according the number of cigarettes smoked per day < 10 (n = 57), 11-20 (n = 115), and > 20 cigarettes (n = 25). Smokers had significantly poorer sperm density (P < .005), a lower percentage of viability (P < .007), a lower percentage of normal sperm morphology (P < .005), and the percentage of motile sperm was lower (P < .005). These parameters were worse in the heavy smoking groups. Thus the present study corroborates reports of detrimental effects of cigarette smoking on sperm characteristics. Further studies are needed to explain the mechanism by which smoking affects spermatogenesis.

Smoking and male reproduction: a review

Because of the large number of men worldwide who smoke and the fact that cigarette smoke contains known mutagens and carcinogens, there has been concern that smoking may have adverse effects on male reproduction. A review of the epidemiological literature indicates that cigarette smoking is associated with modest reductions in semen quality including sperm concentration, motility and morphology. The associations between male smoking and sperm concentration and motility are stronger among studies of 'healthy' men (e.g. volunteers and sperm donors) than among men from infertility clinic populations. Smoking has also been associated with alterations in hormone levels in males, for example increases in the levels of oestrone and oestradiol. Despite modest reductions in semen quality and altered hormone levels among smokers compared to non-smokers, studies have not shown a reduction in male fertility in association with paternal smoking. There is some evidence to suggest that paternal smoking is associated with congenital anomalies and childhood cancer (with ORs in positive studies generally < 2.0). Smoking has not been shown to be mutagenic to human spermatozoa, although studies have been small and have had methodological shortcomings. It is concluded that, although smokers as a group may not experience reduced fertility, men with marginal semen quality who wish to have children may benefit from quitting smoking, since several small studies indicate the potential for improved semen quality after quitting smoking. More research on the benefits of quitting smoking among men with marginal semen quality is needed. Methodological improvements in studies aimed at clarifying the association between paternal smoking and reproductive and developmental outcomes in offspring should include obtaining accurate paternal smoking dose information, evaluating smoking exposure information in relation to various time windows (e.g. prior to conception, during gestation), and controlling for potential confounders and modifying factors such as age and maternal smoking habits. More sensitive and specific laboratory assays and increased sample sizes are required to establish whether smoking induces mutations in human spermatozoa.

Temporary increase of FSH levels in healthy, nulliparous, young women after cessation of low-dose oral contraceptive use

The effect of modern low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) on the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in young, health, nulligravid women was studied in two independent samples. Elevated FSH levels were seen in former OC users compared with never users regardless of menstrual cycle phase. The increase in FSH levels seemed to peak one year after cessation of OC use. This relationship was still significant after exclusion of women with low progesterone levels. LH levels were significantly higher in former users compared with never users in the first sample, but not in the second sample. The difference in FSH concentrations was very small. Single blood samples were obtained from the subjects at each time point even though it is recognized that gonadotropin secretion is pulsatile. These results must be regarded as preliminary and unconfirmed due to small sample size.

Relationship of smoking cessation and nicotine gum use to salivary androstenedione and testosterone in middle-aged men

Cross-sectional studies have associated cigarette smoking in men with elevated androstenedione and little net effect on other sex steroids. However, it is not clear if such findings reflect the impact of nicotine exposure or if sex hormone levels change following smoking cessation. The relationship of the reported number of cigarettes smoked per day and salivary cotinine to salivary testosterone and androstenedione was examined in 221 men aged 35 to 59 years at baseline and 1 year following randomization into a clinical trial including a smoking-cessation intervention. At baseline, salivary cotinine was related to increased salivary androstenedione and testosterone following control for age, body mass, alcohol intake, and time of day of specimen collection (partial r = +.14 and +.30 P < .05 and .01, respectively). The reported number of cigarettes smoked per day was unrelated to either hormone. At the first annual visit, there was a significant decrease in the salivary androstenedione of men who had quite smoking and were currently using nicotine gum (94 v 60 pg/mL, P < .05, n = 34) and of men who had quit smoking and were not exposed to nicotine (86 v 56 pg/mL, P < .05, n = 48), whereas the salivary androstenedione of men who remained smokers at the first annual visit was unchanged (83 v 85 pg/mL, n = 139). Salivary testosterone levels were not significantly affected by a change in smoking status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cigarette smoking: effects on cognitive functions and drug-induced parkinsonism in chronic schizophrenia

Epidemiological studies suggest an apparent protective effect of cigarette smoking on the risk of Parkinson's disease. There is also a report suggesting that patients with Parkinson's disease who smoke are less likely to develop dementia. I investigated the relationship of smoking to the severity of cognitive functions and presence of drug-induced parkinsonism in a group of 111 neuroleptic-treated chronic institutionalized schizophrenic patients. Patients who smoked had significantly less cognitive impairment (p < .02) and a lower prevalence of drug-induced Parkinsonism (p < .02) compared to nonsmokers. These findings suggest that cigarette smoking may protect against the development of dementia and drug-induced Parkinsonism in schizophrenia.

Plasma prolactin in relation to menstrual cycle phase, oral contraceptive use, arousal time and smoking habits

The study was designed to investigate if modern low dosage combined oral contraceptives were associated with changes in plasma prolactin levels in healthy nulliparous women aged 19-25. Plasma prolactin was not significantly correlated to oral contraceptive use, nor to smoking habits. Plasma prolactin was, however, significantly negatively correlated to time since awakening. A significant two-way interaction on prolactin was also seen between smoking and present oral contraceptive use. In our material the mean values of plasma prolactin were higher in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase, although not significantly.

Effect of smoking on concentration, motility and zona-free hamster test on human sperm

The effect of smoking on sperm concentration, motility, and zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay (SPA) was evaluated in 293 smokers of more than 10 cigarettes/day and 382 nonsmokers. Prerequisites for inclusion in the study were sperm concentration of greater than 10 x 10(6)/ml, sperm motility of greater than 30%, and normal morphology of greater than 60%. Although a lower sperm concentration was found in smokers, no significant difference was observed in sperm motility and SPA.

Cigarette smoking and neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism

Several studies have reported an apparent protective effect of cigarette smoking for the risk of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). These observations are supported by neurochemical studies demonstrating enhancement of central dopaminergic neurotransmission by nicotine. We studied the prevalence and severity of neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism (NIP) in relation to cigarette smoking in a homogeneous sample of 130 psychiatric inpatients receiving long-term neuroleptic treatment. Despite the fact that smokers had significantly higher dosage of neuroleptics during the month prior to evaluation and longer exposure to medication, they presented with significantly less prevalence and severity of NIP than nonsmokers. These findings suggest that the inverse association between smoking and IPD may apply to NIP.

The antiestrogenic effect of cigarette smoking in women

Epidemiologic results indicate that women who smoke cigarettes are relatively estrogen-deficient. Smokers have an early natural menopause, a lowered risk of cancer of the endometrium, and an increased risk of some osteoporotic fractures. Moreover, women who smoke may have a reduced risk of uterine fibroids, endometriosis, hyperemesis gravidarum, and benign breast disease. Several possible mechanisms for these effects have been identified. Smoking does not appear to be clearly related to estradiol levels, at least in postmenopausal women, although levels of adrenal androgens are increased. Moreover, smoking appears to alter the metabolism of estradiol, leading to enhanced formation of the inactive catechol estrogens.

The questionable physiologic and epidemiologic basis for a male climacteric syndrome: preliminary results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study

This paper examines the physiologic and epidemiologic evidence for a widely discussed syndrome termed either 'mid-life crisis', 'male menopause', 'male climacteric', or increasingly, 'andropause'. The paper is divided into 2 parts: (1) a review of evidence from physiologic studies conducted over the last decade that examine endocrine function in aging males; (2) a description of the salient features of an ongoing multidisciplinary epidemiologic study (the Massachusetts Male Aging Study) of a sample of approximately 1700 men aged 40-69 yr, randomly sampled from the general population. This study is markedly different in size and content from studies conducted to date. Preliminary findings suggest that age per se may be a relatively unimportant contributor to endocrine variability and that anthropometrics and life style phenomena may be at least as important.

Cigarette smoking and male reproduction

The effects of cigarette smoking on male reproduction were studied through measuring the serum estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), and total testosterone (T). Smoking men had higher levels of E2 and PRL but normal T compared to nonsmokers. Raised E2 and PRL may be among the mechanisms through which cigarette smoking impairs male reproduction.