Influence of high-dose methotrexate therapy on the primordial follicles of the mouse ovary.
OBJECTIVE
High-dose methotrexate (MTX) is one of the most prescribed agents in many malignant diseases affecting girls and young women of reproductive ages. This animal study directly measures the primordial follicle loss following exposure to high-dose MTX.


METHODS
Nine inbred Balb/c mice aged 7-8 weeks in the study group were administered 5 gr/m(2) MTX as a single agent intraperitoneally, whereas nine mice in the control group received saline. Seven days later the mice were killed and total numbers of the primordial follicles remaining in both ovaries were counted.


RESULTS
In the high-dose MTX group, the mean number of primordial follicles (mean +/- standard deviation) was significantly different (202 +/- 38) versus the control group (327 +/- 81.7; P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that high-dose MTX causes damage to the primordial follicles of the ovaries of mice. This result may be important because young women taking high-dose MTX may suffer diminished reproductive performance and premature cessation of menses in the years following therapy.
Gol
Mert
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey. mertgol@comu.edu.tr
Saygili
Ugur
U
Koyuncuoglu
Meral
M
Uslu
Turhan
T
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000187:drug effects
D008727:Methotrexate