Liraglutide treatment effects on rat ovarian and uterine tissues

Reprod Biol. 2019 Sep;19(3):237-244. doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2019.07.003. Epub 2019 Jul 24.

Abstract

Liraglutide is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of Liraglutide in ovarian and uterine tissues in albino rats. 30 female rats were divided into 3 groups, 10 rats each. Group (I) served as control group, group (II) animals administrated therapeutic doses of liraglutide for 5 weeks and group (III) animals were injected with Liraglutide as the pervious group. Then they were left for 2 weeks after drug termination as a recovery period. The biochemical results showed a decrease in the female reproductive hormones profile, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and an increase in the level of testosterone (T). Liraglutide administration caused a significant decrease in the antioxidant markers, glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant increase in the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA). The histopathological examination revealed apoptosis of granulosa cells of different types of follicles with an increase in atretic and disorganized follicles. Vacuolar degenerative changes, and Atrophied muscle with sever inflammatory cell infiltrate in endometrium with congested, dilated blood vessels could be detected in uterine tissues. However, most of the deleterious effects of liraglutide decreased after drug discontinuation. In this study, we clarify the harmful effect of the liraglutide on ovarian and uterine tissues, thus potentially causing reproductive health malfunction and reducing the chances of pregnancy.

Keywords: Albino rat; Female; Liraglutide; Ovary; Uterus.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Liraglutide / administration & dosage
  • Liraglutide / pharmacology*
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Ovary / anatomy & histology
  • Ovary / drug effects*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Uterus / drug effects*

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Liraglutide