Research Article, Endocrinol Diabetes Res Vol: 4 Issue: 1

Effect of Clomiphene Citrate on Thyroid Hormones T3, T4 and TSH Levels in Mice Offspring

Wejdan M Henawi^* and Mohammed O Aljahdali

King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Sciences, Biological Sciences Department, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding Author : Wejdan M Henawi
King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Sciences, Biological Sciences Department, Saudi Arabia
E-mail: wmhenawi@gmail.com

Received: February 01, 2018 Accepted: March 30, 2018 Published: April 03, 2018

Citation: Henawi WM, Aljahdali MO (2018) Effect of Clomiphene Citrate on Thyroid Hormones T₃, T₄ and TSH Levels in Mice Offspring. Endocrinol Diabetes Res 4:1. doi: 10.4172/2470-7570.1000127

Abstract

Keywords: Clomiphene citrate; Offspring

Introduction

There are many ovulation inducing drugs is prescribed nowadays, Clomiphene citrate (CC) is the first choice for women treatment with ovulatory disorder or those with polycystic ovaries (PCOS) and have been widely used since 1962 until today [1]. Clomiphene citrate or Clomid^® tablets are orally administered, nonsteroidal land usually given on the third or the fifth day of cycle after spontaneous or progesterone induced withdrawal bleeding with 50 mg for five days [2]. The effective dose of CC ranges from 50,100,150 mg /day, doses excess 250 gm/day is not approved by the FDA [3]. In human and animals development thyroid glands and thyroid hormones thyroxin T₄ and triiodothyronine T₃ are too important and central, many previous studies suggested that thyroid hormones plays a big role in immune, nervous, cardiovascular, reproductive system development and function, also in many species they have different widely effects on reproduction and reproductive tract development [4]. Thyroid development pattern in human and rodents is similar. In human fetus thyroid system development happened within hypothalamus, thyroid gland and pituitary gland initial development, that occurs between embryonic day 10 and gestational week 11 [5]. In rats thyroid gland development occurs during pregnancy approximately 3 weeks long, in the same order as human [6]. Hypothyroidism in prepubertal can cause men infertility, previous studies suggested that alterations of semen parameters were induced by hypothyroidism. Patients with thyroid dysfunction were having abnormal values of T₃ and T₄ [7]. In human thyroid dysfunction in fact can cause menstrual abnormalities and pregnancy wastage, therefore, animal in vitro studies suggested that thyroid hormones play an important direct role in ovarian physiology [8]. As an important finding of [9]. CC treatment with thyroid hormone replacement therapy is of a great value for lutealphase defect and ovulation induction in hypothyroxinemia patients. Clomiphene citrate can directly influence thyroid hormones and function [10]. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of CC on thyroid hormones T₃, T₄ and TSH levels in mice offspring of treated mothers with CC.

Material and Methods

Animals

All experimental procedures with mice were approved by the ethical guidelines of the animal care and use committee of King Abdulaziz University. Twenty five virgin albino mice of SWR strain female, at age (8 week old) and weighing (23-25 gm) were used in the present study. Mice were obtained from animal house unit of king Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Animals were acclimatized to laboratory conditions for one week before to the initiation of experimental treatments and were housed in standard plastic cages and maintained in controlled laboratory conditions room, temperature (20 ± 1ºC), light: dark cycle (12:12h) and humidity (65%). Mice were feed ad libitum with standard diet and had free access to tap water.

Experiment design

Animals were divided in to two groups: 1- Control group (five females). 2- Clomiphene citrate treated group (20 females). Mice were oral injected with 0.2 and 0.3 mg /day of CC daily for 2wk, after 2wk every female were housed with a male for mating after female get pregnant males were taken out. On the day 26th after weaning and 8 week blood samples were taken from orbital sinus of mice offspring (22 pre-pubertal, 22 post- pubertal male &23 pre-pubertal, 23 post- pubertal female) for T₃, T₄ and TSH levels were determined by using (Elba Science) Eliza kits, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Statistical analysis

Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) was used. Data were presented as mean (standard deviation). The continuous variables between more than 2 groups as comparison between control, male and female were compared using Onaway ANOVA (LSD) test, and between 2 groups as pre-pubertal and post-pubertal were made using unpaired student “t” test. A probability (P)<0.05 was considered significant. Graphs were made using Prism software for statistics version.

Results

Males group

Table 1 and Figure 1 as well for the analysed data showed that TSH level were significantly increased in Pre-males vs. Pre-control (0.74 ± 0.01 vs. 2.19 ± 1.24, P¹= 0.034), and there were significant differences in TSH level in Pre-males vs. Post-males (2.19 ± 1.24 vs. 2.90 ± 1.01, P²=0.031). Whereas, for T₃ levels were high significant increase in Pre-males vs. Pre-control only. As for T₄ levels there were no significant differences in this group Pre or Post.

Table 1: Comparison of the measured hormones in different studied groups of male mice.

Females group

In Table 2 and Figure 1 analysed data showed that there were no statistically significant difference in Pre- females vs. Pre- control, Post-females vs. Post- control and in Pre- females vs. Post- females groups.

Table 2: Comparison of the measured hormones in different studied groups of female mice.

Males and Females group

In Table 3 and Figure 1 as well Analysed data showed high significant differences for TSH level in Pre-males vs. Pre-females (2.19 ± 1.24 vs. 1.45 ± 1.02, P¹=0.035), Post-males vs. Post-females (2.90 ± 1.01 vs. 1.84 ± 1.00, P²=0.001) and Pre-females vs. Pre-males (1.45 ± 1.02 vs. 2.90 ± 1.01, P⁴=0.0001). As for T₃ level also was significantly lower in pre-females vs. Post-males only (5.56 ± 1.35 vs. 6.58 ± 1.44, P⁴=0.0001). Whereas, T₄ level there was no significant differences in all males & females groups.

Table 3: Comparison of the measured hormones in treated pre-pubertal and post-pubertal male versus female mice.

Discussion

Although, Clomiphene citrate (CC) considered one of the safest drug given to women with evolutionary disorder since the 60s, rises concern in the medical field on its effects on the newly offspring. Results of the current study show a consistent and statistically variations extended effects of CC on thyroid hormones and TSH in mice offspring. These affects clearly appeared as an increasing of hormones levels in general, but the significant increase was in TSH level in per-males and post-males offspring comparing to control and to each other and a significant decreased in TSH level was found in females groups comparing to males groups, while it was no significant difference in females group. Also, there was a significant increase in T₃ level of pre-males only comparing to control whereas, not in females group. However, there were no significant differences in T₄ level in all males and females groups in this study finding.

This finding is in agreement with the previous studies that recorded increased TSH serum concentration after and during ovaries stimulation (OS), also they were recorded an increase in T₄ level in infertility women within 1 month after OS. While, T₃ level did not change after CC treatment [11,12]. Another increasing in TSH level affected by patients who used of CC was reported as well [13]. Similarly, TSH was increased in 15 boys with delayed adolescence and 6 males with isolated gonadotropin deficiency (IGD) compared adult controls male and was similar to adult female as a response of using CC in IGD patients [14]. But disagree with another study when he reported that no change found in TSH level in women after OS [15]. Also it has been suggested that TSH, T₃ and T₄ levels were remained unchanged in women after OS [16]. In similar study indicates that TSH level was increased, while T₄ level was not changed in patients during OS [17]. Also De Leo reported that no significant difference in TSH level kwas found in CC administration group and CC plus L-thyroxin group in women [18]. Similar result in previous study although reported that there were no statistically significant differences in TSH level between two groups of Clomiphene citrate challenge test (CCCT) in 70 patients with menstrual cycle disturbances [19].

Some finding of a previous study on patients with primary testicular failure recorded an increase in TSH level and no changes in both T₃ and T₄ levels after CC administration [20]. Although, it has been suggested that TSH, T₃ and T₄ levels were normal as a result of CC administration for male infertility with chromosomal abnormalities [21]. Another study was done on healthy men, they were given 100 mg /day of CC for 5and 12 consecutive days, the finding of this study recorded small but statistically significant decreased in T₃ and T₄ levels on day 4of CC and a slight increase in TSH level was found in day 5 of CC administrated [10]. Recent study on albino rats indicates to TSH level significantly decreased in males treated with CC and CC+H and in females treated with CC+ H while TSH level was increased in treated females with CC+H comparing to controls, in the same study T₃ level significantly elevated in males and females treated with CC alone and decreased in males and females treated with CC+H comparing to control also they recorded significant reduction of T₄ level in both groups of males and females [22]. Blood transmission form the treated mothers to their offspring may cause these highly significant increases and disparity changes in hormones concentrations levels.

Conclusions

In conclusion, blood biochemical analysis indicated that CC causes TSH, T₃ disturbance in treated mother’s offspring in albino mice.

Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to King Abdulaziz University for encouragements and unlimited support.

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