Effects of Lithium on Levels of Testosterone, Pituitary Gonadotropins, and Testis Tissue in Adult Male Rats

Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Considering the importance of sex cells in reproduction and transmission of hereditary traits, in this study, the effects of lithium were investigated onto the level of testosterone, gonadotropins, testis tissue, and spermatogenesis.

An experimental study was performed on 16 rats in two groups. The experimental group was intraperitoneally injected with 180 mg/kg/body weight of lithium carbonate solution for 40 days. The control group did not receive any medicine. The testes were removed, fixed in 10% formalin, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and the collected data was analyzed.

LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Weight and length of the testes and weight of epididymis showed significant reductions in the experimental group compared to the controls. Significantly fewer spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, and spermatid were seen in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.001). However, the two groups were not significantly different in terms of testis width or the number of Sertoli cells.

Lithium must be cautiously prescribed by considering each patient’s test results, dose of drug, and duration of use.