Effects of administration of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and folic acid on ovarian histopathology in adult female rats

Ehsan Salarkia,1 Arezoo saberi,2,*

1. Kerman Physiology Research Center, Kerman Univeristy of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran
2. Kerman Physiology Research Center, Kerman Univeristy of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

Introduction

Previous studies have reported the antifertility activities of sulfonamides. this study was designed to evaluate the effects of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (tmp/smx) and its co-administration with folic acid on ovarian histopathology in female rats.

Methods

A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into 8 groups (n=6). group i served as the control and other groups, iii to ix, received tmp/smx (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg; i.p.), folic acid (1 mg/kg; i.p.) or their combination for 14 days, respectively. the oocytes were obtained from each group at the end of the 14th days and scored for maturational status as germinal vesicle (gv), metaphase i (mi), or metaphase ii (mii). the number of primordial follicle (prf), primary follicle (pf), and secondary follicle in formalin fixed ovaries were counted under light microscopy. the data were analyzed by one-way anova followed by post-hoc dunnet test using spss 20.00. results were considered statistically significant at p<0.05.

Results

Tmp/smx (60 and 120 mg/kg) treatment for 14 days caused a significant decrease in the number of gv (p<0.001), mi and mii (p<0.001), a significant increase in structural abnormalities, including prf, pf and secondary follicle (p<0.001) as well as congestion, inflammation and necrosis of ovarian tissue compared to the vehicle group. folic acid co-administration with tmp/smx reversed partially all these parameters compared to the tmp/smx group (p<0.001).

Conclusion

The data showed the adverse effects of tmp/smx on the ovarian maturational status and tissue structure which was reversed partially by folic acid co-administration in rats.

Keywords

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, folic acid, ovarian maturation status, ovarian histopathology, rat