%0 Journal Article %T Effect of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal on Sex Hormone and Gonadotropin Levels in Addicted Male Rats %J International Journal of Fertility and Sterility %I Royan Institute, Iranian Academic Center for Education Culture and Research (ACECR) %Z 2008-076X %A Rahmati, Batool %A Ghosian Moghaddam, Mohammad Hassan %A Khalili, Mohsen %A Enayati, Ehsan %A Maleki, Maryam %A Rezaeei, Saeedeh %D 2016 %\ 07/01/2016 %V 10 %N 2 %P 239-244 %! Effect of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal on Sex Hormone and Gonadotropin Levels in Addicted Male Rats %K Morphine %K Withania somnifera %K Gonadotropins %K Estrogen %K Testosterone %R 10.22074/ijfs.2016.4915 %X Background Opioid consumption has been widely increasing across the globe; how- ever, it can cause adverse effects on the body. Morphine, an opioid, can reduce sex hor- mones and fertility. Withania somnifera (WS) is a traditional herb used to improve sexual activities. This study strives to investigate the effect of WS on sex hormones and gonado- tropins in addicted male rats. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, forty-eight male National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group, ii. WS-treated control group, iii. Addicted group, and iv. WS-treated addicted group. Wa- ter-soluble morphine was given to rats for 21 days to induce addiction, concurrently the treated groups (2 and 4) also received WS plant-mixed pelleted food (6.25%). At the end of the treatment, the sex hormone and gonadotropin levels of the rats’ sera were deter- mined in all the groups. Results Except for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), morphine reduced most of the gonadotropin and sex hormone levels. Whereas WS caused a considerable increase in the hormones in the treated addicted group, there was only a slight increase in the treated control group. Conclusion WS increased sex hormones and gonadotropins-especially testosterone, es- trogen, and luteinizing hormone-in the addicted male rats and even increased the proges- terone level, a stimulant of most sex hormones in addicted male rats. %U https://www.ijfs.ir/article_45384_3bd81e25abfd29b45a6c6d852a16af25.pdf