Abstract

PROGESTERONE ADMINISTRATION DURING PREGNANCY IS EMBRYO-TOXIC.

Insaf Jasim Mahmoud*, Nawal Khairy Al-Ani and Hanaa Ahmed Faris

Abstract

Background & objectives: Progesterone is a therapeutic agent in human pregnancy but its effects on the developing embryo and fetus have long been a concern. We aimed to find any changes in the morphology of the reproductive system and in blood levels of estrogen and progesterone of females mice exposed to progesterone during intrauterine life. Methods: Ninety adult pregnant mice were divided into three groups and injected daily with two different doses of progesterone for fourteen days: G1, control group: sesame seed oil; G2: progesterone at a dose of 0.4 mg / kg body weight (BW) / day and G3: progesterone at a dose of 0.8 mg /kg BW / day. New borne females were sacrificed at zero day, one month and two months of age. Morphology and morphometry of reproductive system were studied and hormonal assay was performed. Results: At one and two months after birth, there was a highly significant increase (P < 0.01) in the anogenital distance and a highly significant decrease in the number of corpora lutea. At one month after birth there was a highly significant decrease in the number of ovarian follicles. At the age of two months, there was a highly significant decrease in the height of epithelial cell layer and a highly significant decrease in the diameter of ovarian follicles. There was a highly significant decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels. All changes were in both G2 and G3. Interpretation & conclusions: The administration of progesterone during pregnancy has adverse effects on certain aspects of the reproductive system of female embryos indicating that progesterone is embryo toxic.

Keywords: Anogenital distance, morphometry of ovarian follicles, progesterone teratogenicity.