The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
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.