Effects of fluoksetin on menstrual cycles of rats

One of the most widely used drugs that have been used in treatment of depression is Fluoxetine. Beside the positive effects of this substance, some side effects have been emerging such as panic attacks, bulimia, agoraphobia and premenstrual syndrome. Additionally, defects in menstrual cycles of female individuals have been reported.In this study, we investigated whether Fluoxetine would negatively affect the precisely regular menstrual cycles of female rats. In our study, young adult Wistar albino rats were used. Female rats were separated into 3 groups, each including 5 rats. Smear was applied to the rats that were used in the experiment for 3 cycles and the regularity of their cycles was detected. Tap water was given to the control group through gavage. First experimental group was given 10mg/kg of Fluoxetine and the second experimental group was given 20mg/kg of Fluoxetine through gavage. In all of the animals in the control group, the menstrual cycles continued regularly till the end of the experiment. In the group that was exposed to 10mg/kg of Fluoxetine, at the beginning, although the phases were regular as in the control group, towards the last cycle, some mild disruptions were detected in diestrus or metaestrus phases. In the smears of the animals in the group that were exposed to 20mg/kg of Fluoxetine, corruptions between the cycles were observed beginning from the second cycle. Furthermore, in the animals in this group, a significant level of weight loss was observed compared to the 10 mg group. These impairments in the menstrual cycle were found to be parallel with the evidence of other cycle studies on animals that discovered impairments in cycles in addition to studies that illustrated disruption in sexual activity and delay in people who were given Fluoxetine. For our findings to gain more significance; we believe that it would be more useful if, cycle findings would be repeated with hormonal measurements and the possibility of mating and pregnancy would be investigated in further similar studies