Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANGIOGENIC POTENTIAL AND TERATOGENICITY OF TESTOSTERONE ON CHICK EMBRYOGENESIS

Adit Kulkarni*, Tanvi Upasani and Ved Kshirsagar

Abstract

Testosterone is a sex steroid hormone that induces gene expression by antagonizing the androgen receptor which leads to the growth and development of male sex organs and the development of secondary sexual characters. It is produced in the Leydig cells present in the testis of males which converts cholesterol into testosterone and is regulated by Luteinizing hormone in the initial steps. In addition to this, Testosterone is also responsible for displaying aggression in males. The study explores the effects of Testosterone on Gallus gallus domesticus embryos when treated with mild dosage of 25 ppm and 50 ppm. Substantial transformations were seen in the protein profiles where protein expression was inhibited after the treatment. In previous studies, it showed testosterone affects the activity of cholinesterase in castrated rats so we explored the activity of enzyme on exogenous treatment of the Testosterone where we found that there was a considerable decrease in the activity of the cholinesterase enzyme. We also noticed considerable modifications in the morphology of the treated group of embryos like wavy neural tube, buphthalmos, bulged mesencephalon, and increased embryo size than the controlled embryos that may have been caused due to alteration in the pathways affected by the exogenous treatment. However, detailed research is crucial to understand the long-term impact of prenatal and foetal exposure to sex steroids, as this knowledge can help us decipher the intricate processes of embryonic development and potential for growth abnormalities or birth defects. This study will inform us about how these exposures may affect foetal growth and development.

Keywords: Testosterone, HH staging, Cholinesterase, Bradford Assay, Teratogenesis,