Curcumin protects against lamotrigine‐induced chronic ovarian and uterine toxicity in rats by regulating PPAR‐γ and ROS production

• Published in: Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. e23599 - n/a
• Main Authors: Rezk, Meriam N. N., Ahmed, Sabreen Mahmoud, Gaber, Shereen S., Mohammed, Mostafa M., Yousri, Nada A., Welson, Nermeen N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Antiepileptic agents; Biomarkers; Curcumin; Estrogens; Females; Gene expression; Lamotrigine; Lipids; Luteinizing hormone; ovarian dysfunction; Ovaries; Oxidative stress; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors; polycystic ovaries; Progesterone; Reproductive system; Testosterone; Toxicity; Uterus; lamotrigine; polycystic ovaries; ovarian dysfunction; curcumin
• ISSN: 1095-6670; 1099-0461
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23599

Lamotrigine (LTG) is an antiepileptic drug with possible adverse effects on the female reproductive system. Curcumin was declared to improve ovarian performance. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify ovulatory dysfunction (OD) associated with LTG and the role of curcumin in ameliorating this dysfunction. Adult female Wister albino rats were assigned into four groups: negative control (received saline), positive control (received curcumin only), LTG, and LTG with curcumin groups. Drugs were administered for 90 days. The hormonal profile, including testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle‐stimulating hormone, in addition to the lipid profile and glycemic analysis, were tested. Oxidative stress biomarkers analysis in the ovaries and uterus and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) gene expression were also included. Histopathological examination of ovarian and uterine tissues and immunohistochemical studies were also performed. Curcumin could improve the OD related to chronic LTG intake. That was proved by the normalization of the hormonal profile, glycemic control, lipidemic status, oxidative stress markers, and PPAR‐γ gene expression. The histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of ovarian and uterine tissues revealed an improvement after curcumin administration. The results describe an obvious deterioration in ovarian performance with LTG through the effect on lipidemic status, PPAR‐γ gene, and creating an oxidative stress condition in the ovaries of chronic users, with a prominent improvement with curcumin addition to the treatment protocol.