Effect of agomelatine application on uterine contractions and gestational age in rats

Agomelatine is an antidepressant with melatonergic activity. The need for questioning whether there is melatonin-like or different activity of the agomelatine, which is a melatonergic agent, on the pregnancy and reproductive physiology came to exist due to the fact that the agomelatine is in category B for use in pregnancy and the melatonin has significant efficacy on pregnancy and reproductive physiology in previous studies. In the light of this information, the main aim of present study was to investigate the possible efficacy of agomelatine on uterine contractions, change of cycle, number of fetus in the abdomen and the beginning stage of labor in the different periods of pregnancy and before pregnancy. For this purpose, 74 Wistar Albino rats weighing 200-250 g were used in our study. While each of groups decapitated in diestrus phase were formed by 7 rats, each of experimental groups impregnated and decapitated in labour were formed by 10 rats. Thus, 8 different experimental groups were formed. Oxytocin, progesterone, estrogen and prostaglandin-E levels were examined by ELISA method in blood samples taken after decapitation. According to the results of the study; it was detected that there was a statistically significant elongation in diestrus phase of rats using chronic agomelatine compared to the control group. There was no any statistically significant in progesterone level of rats using chronic agomelatine compared to the control group. Agomelatine caused the statistically significant inhibition on uterine contractions in in all groups. It was observed that the number of fetus increased in all other groups compared to the control group. In addition, it was found that the agomelatine chronic use before pregnancy period and use during pregnancy delayed pregnancy by reducing oxytocin and estrogen levels. As a result, it was found that agomelatine had an inhibitory effect on uterine contractions, and its chronic use prolonged the diöstrus phase and pregnancy period, increased the number of fetus. Keywords: agomelatine, myometrium, contraction, pregnant, labour, rat