Decreased ovarian reserve in female Sprague-Dawley rats induced by isotretinoin (retinoic acid) exposure


Abali R., Yuksel M. A., Aktas C., Celik C., Guzel S., Erfan G., ...More

REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE, vol.27, no.2, pp.184-191, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 27 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2013.04.010
  • Journal Name: REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.184-191
  • Keywords: anti-Mullerian hormone, apoptosis, isotretinoin, ovarian reserve, toxicity, atretic follicle, ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE, 13-CIS-RETINOIC ACID, GENE-EXPRESSION, APOPTOSIS, WOMEN, ACNE, FOLLICLES, CELLS, SPERMATOGENESIS, CHEMOTHERAPY
  • Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Isotretinoin is a retinoid widely used for the treatment of severe nodulocystic acne. Although it has broad side effects, there is no well-designed study about its effects on the ovary. This study investigated possible toxic effects of isotretinoin on female gonads. A total of 30 female rats were randomly divided into three equal groups according to the dose of isotretinoin they were administered: 0 mg/kg/day (group 1), 7.5 mg/kg/day (group 2) or 15 mg/kg/day (group 3). Thirty days after the treatment, the effects of isotretinoin on the ovaries were evaluated with serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) concentrations, apoptosis by TUNEL assay and immunohistochemical observations by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The percentage of atretic follicles was calculated for each stage of folliculogenesis. The serum AMH concentrations were found to be lower in both isotretinoin groups. The percentage of atretic follicles in both isotretinoin groups was higher than the control. The number of PCNA-positive granulosa cells was decreased in the isotretinoin groups. The number of ovarian follicles with apoptotic granulosa cells was increased in the experimental groups. These data are the first to identify that exposure of isotretinoin may be responsible for decreased ovarian reserve and toxic effects on rat ovaries. RBMOnline Crown Copyright (C) 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.