THE EFFECTS OF AMLODIPINE ON SERUM TESTOSTERONE - A MULTICENTER STUDY IN PAKISTAN

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.