Effect of Acetaminophen on the Estrous Cycle and Reproductive Hormones of Female Mice

Abstract

In responding to the research question, what is the effect of acetaminophen on reproductive hormones and estrous cycles of mice? A study was undertaken to establish the potential impact of acetaminophen on the pituitary-gonadal axis. Reproductive hormones are critical drivers of regular estrous cycles in mammals. The hormones are required to achieve and maintain conception and the reproductive potential among domestic animal species. Up or down-regulation of any reproductive hormones interferes with the estrous cycle and may result in temporary or permanent infertility. Acetaminophen elicits analgesia through inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and activation of the endocannabinoid system. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acetaminophen on the estrous cycle and reproductive hormone levels. The study utilized 6-8 weeks old female mice divided into control and treatment groups with five mice each. The control and treatment group received normal saline and 200mg/kg acetaminophen via oral gavage for 20 days, respectively. There was no difference in the length and number of cycles observed, but there was a significant reduction in the frequency of proestrus in the treatment group. There was a delay in producing estradiol, Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in the treatment group. From this study, acetaminophen negatively affected the estrous cycle and hormone production in the treated mice. The observed disruption in hormone patterns could be a potential cause of infertility for both humans and animals that use acetaminophen.