ELSELVIER

 Journal

 Experimental Maternal Treatment With Dexamethasone During Lactation Induces Neonatal Testicular And Epididymal Oxidative Stress;Implications For Early Postnatal Exposure.Pathophysiology

 Jeje S.O., Ola-Mudathir F.K., Raji Y

 2017

Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation alters reproductive functions and increases serum corticosterone in the male offspring. Excess corticosterone may induce oxidative stress. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation on oxidative stress indices in the testis and epididymis of a male offspring. Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups (n = 5). Group 1 was administered 0.02 ml/100 g/day normal saline subcutaneously at lactation days 1–21. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered 100 _g/kg/day dexamethasone (Dex) subcutaneously at lactation days (LD) 1–7, 1–14, and 1–21 respectively. Testis and epididymis malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured as markers of oxidative stress. The mean testis and epididymis MDA were significantly raised (p < 0.05) in the dexamethasone-treated groups when compared with control. This was accompanied with a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in SOD and catalase activities in these tissues in the DexLD 1–21, when compared with control. The mean total protein level of the epididymis was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in all the dexamethasone treated groups when compared with control. In conclusion, maternal treatment with dexamethasone during the first two weeks of lactation and throughout lactation may lead to increase in oxidative stress in the testis and epididymis of the male offspring of Wistar rats. 

 ELSEVIER

 Journal

  Maternal Treatment With Dexamethasone During Lactation Delays Male Puberty And Disrupts Reproductive Functions Via Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal Axis Alterations. Pathophysiology. 23 (2016): 43-49.

 Jeje S.O., Akindele O.O., Balogun M.E And Raji Y

 2016

The effects of maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation on pubertal timing, serum hor-monal profile and sperm indices in the male offspring were assessed. Twenty lactating dams were dividedinto 4 groups (n = 5). Group 1 was administered subcutaneously 0.02 ml/100 g/day normal saline at lacta-tion days 1–21. Groups 2–4 were administered subcutaneously 100 g/kg/day dexamethasone (Dex) atlactation days 1–7, 1–14, and 1–21 respectively. Results showed that there was significant reduction inserum testosterone in the DexLD 1–7 (p < 0.05), DexLD 1–14 (p < 0.01) and DexLD 1–21 (p < 0.001) relativeto control. In addition there was a significant reduction in serum FSH and LH in the DexLD 1–7 (p < 0.01),DexLD 1–14 (p < 0.001) and DexLD 1–21 (p < 0.001) when compared with the control. Treatment with dex-amethasone during lactation significantly increased the days of preputial separation in the DexLD 1–7(p < 0.05), DexLD 1–14 (p < 0.05) and DexLD 1–21 (p < 0.001) relative to control. Maternal treatment withdexamethasone throughout lactation period also significantly reduced sperm counts (p < 0.001), motil-ity (p < 0.01) and increased percentage abnormal sperm (p < 0.001) in the offspring when compared withthe control. In conclusion, maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation may induce delayedpuberty and disrupt reproductive functions by altering activities at hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axisin the male offspring.