THE EFFECTS OF AMLODIPINE ON SERUM TESTOSTERONE - A MULTICENTER STUDY IN PAKISTAN
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Keywords
Amlodipine, Calcium Channel Blockers, Serum Testosterone, Male Reproductive Health, Hormonal Effects
Abstract
Background: Amlodipine is one of the several calcium channel blockers (CCBs) used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Some research indicates that CCBs may affect male reproductive health by changing testosterone levels, even though their effects are mostly cardiovascular. In Karachi and Quetta, Pakistan, this study uses an animal model to examine how amlodipine affects serum testosterone levels.
Methods: A total of 50 male animals (rats and rabbits) were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (no amlodipine) and three experimental groups receiving low, medium, and high doses of amlodipine. The drug was administered orally over 4–6 weeks. Serum testosterone levels were measured before and after treatment using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANOVA and Correlation to assess statistical significance.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in testosterone levels before and after amlodipine treatment (p = 0.068). Additionally, testosterone levels did not significantly vary among different dosage groups (p = 0.732), and the correlation between amlodipine dosage and testosterone levels was weak and statistically insignificant (r = -0.082, p = 0.570). Although 50% of the animals exhibited changes in reproductive behavior, no corresponding hormonal fluctuations were detected.
Conclusion: Amlodipine had no discernible impact on serum testosterone levels in the animal models used in the investigation. These results are in contrast to some earlier research that found that administering CCB decreased testosterone levels. Differences in experimental settings, drug delivery length, or species variability could be the cause of the disparity. To be certain whether amlodipine affects male reproductive health, more research is required, especially clinical investigations involving human patients.
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Dr. Rahimullah Rahi
Assistant Professor Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutic Bolan Medical Collage Hospital Quetta
Prof, Dr. Syed Mehboob Alam
Professor Emeritus Department of Pharmacology Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI) Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Karachi (JPMC).
Dr. Syed Azhar Hussain Zaidi
Associate Professor, Head Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutic Bolan Medical Collage Hospital Quetta
Dr. Mujeebullah Doutani
Assistant Professor Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences BIPBS Quetta
Dr. Zarmina Tareen
Assistant Professor Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences BIPBS Quetta
Dr. Hazart Ali Khan
Associate Professor Executive Director Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences BIPBS Quetta
Prof, Dr. Ghulam Rasool
Ex-Head of Psychiatry Department Bolan Medical Collage Quetta, Ex- Executive Director Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences BIPBS Quetta