Atrophy of the testes endocrine apparatus under cerebral hypoperfusion in rats and its correction
O.M. Grabovyi1, B.S. Uvaiev1, О.О. Grabovyi1, L.M. Yaremenko1
- Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz72.01.016

Abstract
Brain damage (stroke, trauma, hypoperfusion) is accompanied not only by neurological disorders but
also by endocrine deficiency. It may manifest in different forms, ranging from barely noticeable to those
that radically alter life, affecting the regulation of metabolism, sexual health, psychological well-being,
and rehabilitation potential. To assess the atrophy of the endocrine apparatus of the testes under cerebral
hypoperfusion in rats and the possibility of its pharmacological correction. Cerebral hypoperfusion in rats
was modeled by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). Atrophic changes in the testicular
interstitium and the effects of clomiphene and metformin on their course were studied. Clomiphene, as an
activator of the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis, exhibited these properties also under severe chronic
cerebral hypoperfusion in rats and prevented/restored the morphofunctional state of the endocrine apparatus
of the testes. Metformin showed a tendency toward depression of the testicular endocrine apparatus in intact
animals. At later stages of cerebral hypoperfusion in rats, it may have improved the condition of Leydig
cells by compensating for progressively accumulating metabolic disturbances. Combined administration of
clomiphene and metformin under cerebral hypoperfusion demonstrated lower effectiveness in restoring the
morphofunctional state of the testicular endocrine apparatus compared to clomiphene alone. Considering
the latter, it is necessary to correlate the results of testicular changes with the reduction of neurological
symptoms that develop under cerebral hypoperfusion during the action of clomiphene and metformin, to
conclude the expediency of correcting the observed alterations. Cerebral hypoperfusion leads to atrophic
changes in the endocrine apparatus of the testes. By causing a decrease in testosterone production, this
may reduce the effectiveness of compensatory and recovery processes. Clomiphene was shown to be a
promising drug for correcting atrophic changes in the testicular endocrine apparatus under chronic cerebral
hypoperfusion. In contrast, metformin demonstrated lower/negative effectiveness in this direction, and its
combined administration was less effective than clomiphene alone.
Keywords:
cerebral hypoperfusion; bilateral occlusion of common carotid arteries (BCCAO); testes; interstitium; Leydig cells; clomiphene; metformin
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