High Doses of Caffeine during the Peripubertal Period in the Rat Impair the Growth and Function of the Testis

Figure 5

Effect of caffeine on serum testosterone levels and endogenous Leydig cell testosterone production. (a) Serum concentration of testosterone in the control and caffeine-fed groups after 4 weeks of caffeine exposure. Data are presented as mean ± SD based on two independent measurements. CTRL, control; CF1, 120 mg caffeine-fed; CF2, 180 mg caffeine-fed. versus CTRL. (b) Testosterone production with or without LH (200 ng/mL) in rat primary Leydig cells retrieved from the control and caffeine-fed animals at 4 weeks of caffeine exposure. Data are presented as mean ± SD based on two independent measurements. CTRL, Leydig cells retrieved from the control animals; CF, Leydig cells retrieved from caffeine-fed animals (120 mg/kg/day). versus CTRL.

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