Effect of tramadol on ovaries of female mice

Abstract

Tramadol hydrochloride (TrHC) is considered a synthetic analgesic drug, showing opioid and non- opioid characteristics, the central nervous system is the main system affected by it . It is used to relieve pain, but it can be used to treat other neurotic and psychotic diseases as well(1). These characteristics comes from that TrHC acts on opioid receptors, having a weak agonistic effect, and it affects monoamine receptors by blockage of noradrenaline (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) reuptake, this will lead to the suppression of pain transmission in the nervous system(2,3).Frequent studies concentrated on the effects of TrHC on the functions of the testis with carelessness to its effects on the functions of the ovaries. So the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tramadol hydrochloride (TrHC) on female reproductive function, ovarian toxicity and examine the morphology of the ovaries of mice exposed to tramadol hydrochloride (TrHC). Forty female mice were divided randomly into two groups of 20: one control group and one (TrHC) treated group. The TrHC treated group received 100mg per kilogram body weight of TrHC for 2months.The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, and progesterone (P)were measured. Evaluation of the ovaries was conducted after staining with hematoxylin-eosin, and immunohistochemical studies. The concentration of reproductive hormones was significantly lower in the (TrHC)-treated group. In addition, the total number of follicles of all types was significantly lower in the (TrHC) -treated group. These results suggest that female reproductive function is inhibited by(TrHC). TrHC may thus significantly reduce the fertility of female mice.