January - March 2011, Volume 7, Issue 1

Karri S, Vanithakumari G

Influence of Methotrexate and Leucovorin on Glycogen Content in Female Reproductive Tract of Albino Rats

Acta Endo (Buc) 2011, 7 (1): 23-32
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2011.23

Background. Methotrexate (MTX) is used in the treatment of neoplastic disorders. MTX action in non-neoplastic diseases still remains obscure. Female reproductive cells are fast proliferating like cancer cells. Hence, it is important to\r\nidentify markers affected by MTX in the reproductive tract.\r\nAim. Investigate MTX effect on energy metabolism marker glycogen and the protective role of leucovorin (LCN) and\r\nwithdrawal of MTX treatment in the ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina of rats.\r\nAnimals and Methods. Rats with regular oestrous cycle were randomly divided into five groups (n=6) as follows: Control, MTX LD (low dose), MTX HD (high dose), MTXHD+LCN (leucovorin), and MTXHD+WD (withdrawal): 20 days withdrawal. Animals were treated once per day intramuscularly for 20 days. Rats were sacrificed on day 21. MTXHD treatment was withdrawn for additional 20 days and\r\nanimals sacrificed on day 41. Ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina were used for glycogen analysis.\r\nResults. The present study explored the effect of MTX and LCN on glycogen content in the ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina of rats. MTX significantly (P<0.001) inhibited glycogen content in ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina of rats, which was dose dependent. LCN\r\nsupplementation and withdrawal of MTX treatment, partially recovered such an effect.

Keywords: albino rats, cervix, glycogen, leucovorin, methotrexate, ovary, oviduct, uterus and vagina.

Correspondence: Sritulasi Karri, PhD, MBA, Bharathiar University -Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences Coimbatore, Tamilnadu 641046, India, Email: sritulasi@gmail.com, Phone: +91 42 22428491