The Effects of Topiramate on Oogenesis and Estradiol-Progesterone Hormones of NMRI Mice

Approximately 1% of the global population is affected by epilepsy. Topiramate is a new generation of antiepileptic drug with broad use in the treatment of seizure disorders and migraine prevention. Nevertheless, its effect on female reproductive system has not yet been studied.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of topiramate on the oogenesis and sexual hormones of adult NMRI mice.

In this experimental study, 50 female NMRI mice were randomly divided into five groups of 10including control group (no injection), sham group (normal saline), topiramete 25mg /kg.b.w (Group I), 50mg /kg.bw (group II), 100mg/kg.bw (group III). After 30 days of intraperitoneally (IP) injections, animals were weighed and dissected. Blood samples were collected from heart and the level of estradiol and progesterone was measured by Elisa method. After morphometric studies, 7 Micrometer sections of ovary were prepared using microtome and stained by H&E method. Data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA and Dunken post- hoc test. Significance level was considered (P <0.05).

Our findings indicated a significant decrease in parameters such as number of secondary follicles, graphian follicles and the number of corpus luteum, (P <0.001) as well as the level of estradiol and progesteron hormone (P <0.05). Changes in other factors were not significant.

Totally, it can be concluded that topiramate has destructive effects on the female reproductive system and it reduces the oogenesis process.