Abstract:

To explore the impact of antiepileptic drugs on sex hormone secretion and ovarian generation of corpus luteum and follicles in Wistar rats. MethodsA total of 60 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the sodium valproate group (the VPA group), the oxcarbazepine group (the OXC group), the levetiracetam group (the LEV group), the levetiracetam+sodium valproate group (the LO group), and the levetiracetam+oxcarbazepine group (the LV group). Rats were fed with drugs twice daily for 3 months. One month before being killed, rats were subjected to a vaginal smear three times every day(6：00, 14：00, 20:00). Blooding, killing, separating of ovarian tissues, and ovarian weighting were carried out during estrous intervals, and  serum estradiol and progesterone level were determined using RIA. Ovarian tissues were stained using HE. ResultsThe level of progesterone was increased in the LO group compared with the control group, and progesterone level was decreased in the VPA,OXC,LEV,and LV groups  Also, the level of estradiol was decreased in the LEV group, luteal was increased in the LO group, and the number of follicles was decreased in the LO and LV groups. ConclusionLongterm antiepileptic drugs may induce disorders of sex hormone secretion, so drug use should be based on characteristics of different upgrowth periods for females with epilepsy.

Key words: Antiepileptic drugs; Epilepsy; Sex hormone; Ovarian