Ovarian folliculogenesis: detrimental effect of prenatal exposure to cyclophosphamide: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether cyclophosphamide interferes with ovarian folliculogenesis.


METHODS
In this experiment, pregnant rats (n=12) were randomly assigned into two groups, control group (n=6) and cyclophosphamide treatment group (n=6). In the cyclophosphamide treatment group cyclophosphamide was injected intraperitoneally from day 10 of gestation till 20th day, at 2 mg/kg of body weight. The pregnant rats were sacrificed on gestation day 20 and the fetus was collected. The collected fetuses were processed for sectioning and stained with haematoxyline and eosin for microscopic observation of the ovaries.


RESULTS
A meshwork-like appearance of mesenchyme with decreased number of somatic cells and absence of the majority of the germ cells in the ovarian follicles were found in treated fetus. Non-availability of primordial germ cells stopped the interaction between primordial germ cells and somatic supporting cells leading to nonproliferation and degeneration of somatic cells and fluid-filled vacant spaces in the meshwork -like arrangement of mesenchymal cells.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that cyclophosphamide exposure prevents folliculogenesis by causing anovulation and results in infertility. The same detrimental effect might be seen in human fertility with environmental pollutants which are also metabolites of the drug (Fig. 2, Ref. 25).
Ray
B
B
Center for Basic Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India. biswabina@yahoo.co.in
Potu
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BK
D000171:Acrolein / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000633:toxicity*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000171:Acrolein; D003520:Cyclophosphamide