METHIONINE SUPPLEMENTATION MITIGATES TRIAMCINOLONE-INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN CORTISOL, TESTOSTERONE, ICSH, AND SSH IN MALE RATS

Stress-induced significant hormonal changes may negatively impact physiological functions. Methionine is an essential amino acid with several metabolic roles that may influence hormonal changes brought on by stress. However, nothing is known about its exact impact on these hormone patterns. This study examined the effects of methionine supplementation on cortisol, testosterone, somatotropic hormone (SSH), and interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH) concentrations in male rats during triamcinolone stress. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6): control (regular diet), methionine (Met; 100 mg/kg body weight orally), triamcinolone (Tri; 1 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally), and combination triamcinolone plus methionine (Tri+Met). After a 21-day course of treatment, blood samples were obtained for ELISA hormonal analysis. Triamcinolone treatment significantly increased cortisol (104.2 μg/dl vs. 50.4 μg/dl; P