Assessment the effect of doramectin on female rat fertility

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the adverse effects of doramectin (DRM) on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and fertility in female Wistar rats. Design: Descriptive study. Animals: Thirty clinically healthy mature female Wistar rats in the estrus phase. Procedures: Female rats in the estrous phase were randomly divided into three equal groups. The 1st group, female rats were subcutaneously injected with sesame oil as a single dose and were kept as the control group. The 2nd group, female rats were subcutaneously injected with a single therapeutic dose of doramectin (200µg/kg B.wt). When the 3rd group, female rats were subcutaneously injected with a double therapeutic dose of doramectin (400µg/kg B.wt). Blood samples were collected to measure serum E₂, FSH, LH, and P4. Lipid peroxidase (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) activity was measured. At the end of the experiment, ovaries, uteri, and the anterior pituitary gland were collected for histopathological examination. Results: The results showed that there was a significant decrease in all tested hormones except P4 (significant increase) in both treated groups and that DRM caused significant alterations in the oxidative stress markers in both treated groups with some histopathological lesions in the ovary, uterus, and anterior pituitary gland. Conclusion and clinical relevance: A single or double therapeutic dose of doramectin could induce several hormonal disturbances in female rats, and there were marked reductions in oxidative stress and antioxidant defense markers with histopathological alterations in the examined organs.