Effect of sodium valproate on selected reproductive hormones, lipid profiles and ovarian histology in female rats

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sodium valproate (VPA) on reproductive hormones (folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) & total testosterone), lipid profiles, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) & very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), ovarian weight & histology in non epileptic female rats.

Twenty-four sexually mature female Sprague- Dawley rats were included in this study, divided randomly into 3 groups, each one included 8 rats.

Blood samples were collected from one group (8 rats), then dissected before starting the treatment & experimental parameters were measured.

The other 2 groups, group I received distilled water & considered as control group, group II received VPA for 56 days.

After treatment, blood samples were collected from animals then killed for measurement of previously mentioned parameters.

VPA caused significant reduction (P<0.05) in serum FSH & insignificant changes in serum LH & serum total testosterone.

VPA treatment significantly reduced weights of ovaries (P<0.05) but insignificantly affect lipid profiles.

Ovaries of VPA treated rats did not show features of polycystic ovaries & their histology appeared similar to normal tissue.

Numbers of corpus leutum & numbers of follicular cysts did not change significantly in these ovaries.

It was concluded that sodium valproate did not produce changes in reproductive hormones (except FSH), lipid profiles & ovarian histology which were characteristic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in non epileptic female rats.