Oluwakemi Tinuolaoluwa Oyelowo and Adeyombo Folashade Bolarinwa

DOI: 10.14456/sjst-psu.2020.162

pp. 1248 - 1252

Abstract

Corticosterone decreases hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in stressful situations as well as when
nutritional factors are modulated. The effect of in-utero exposure to omega-9 fatty acid on the gonadal hormones were compared
with corticosterone in pubertal male rats. Pregnant rats were distributed on a random basis into five groups of five rats each as
follows: F0C: the control group was administered 1ml/kg of olive oil; F0_EXBM was administered 1000mg/kg of oleic acid for
7days before mating; F0_GD1-7 was administered 1000mg/kg of oleic acid from gestation day (GD)1-7; F0_GD8-15 was administered
1000mg/kg of oleic acid from GD8-15. At puberty, hormonal analysis was carried out. Testicular prolactin, testosterone, folliclestimulating and luteinizing hormone levels were decreased while corticosterone level was increased. Since corticosterone levels
may adversely affect the male reproductive system, omega-9 fatty acid should be considered as a possible contributing factor in
any decline of male fertility rates.

Keywords

• omega-9
• corticosterone
• testosterone
• prolactin