Effect of Methotrexate on Reproductive Function in Female Wistar Rats
This study was designed to investigate the effect of methotrexate on reproductive function in female Wistar rats. Eighteen female rats (120 – 160 g) were used for the estrous cycle and histopathological studies. Methotrexate (0.071 mg/kg) was administered orally on daily basis for 21 and 50 days respectively for the estrous cycle and histological studies. Estrous cycle was carried out using the technique of Marcondes et al., histologies of the ovaries and uteri were also carried out. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test at p=0.05. Treatment of rats for 21 days with methotrexate (0.071 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) reductions in the proestrous and estrous phase of the estrous cycle as well as significant (p<0.05) increments in the metestrous and diestrous phases of the estrous cycle relative to their respective controls. The histopathological study revealed that treatment of rats with methotrexate (0.071 mg/kg) for 50 days presented with ovarian medullary part that is congested and oedematous as well as with multiple foci of hemorrhage within the endometria. It can therefore be concluded that that methotrexate probably has dominant pro-fertility effect, but also probably induced deleterious effects on the ovaries and uteri in female Wistar rats.