Histo Morphological Effect Of Clomiphene Citrate On The Liver, Kidney And Pancreas Of Adult Female Albino Rats With Regular Estrous Cycle

Abstract

Clomiphene, a mixed estrogen agonist and antago­nist, has effects on lipid metabolism thought to be due to its estrogen-like effects. The first clinical trial of Clomiphene citrate therapy demonstrated successful ovulation induction in 80 % of women, half of whom achieved pregnancy during treatment. A total of thirty (30) 10 weeks old healthy female Wistar rats were purchased for the purpose of this study.  Group 1(Control) were the animals in this group were not exposed to any experimental agent/drug. They were allowed free access to food and clean water for 9 days during the experimental period. In Group 2 the animals in this group were exposed to the test drug (Clomiphene citrate 1mg) for 9 consecutive days. For Group 3 the animals in this group were exposed to the test drug (Clomiphene citrate 2mg) for 9 consecutive days. In Group 4 the animals in this group were exposed to the test drug (Clomiphene citrate 5 mg) for 9 consecutive days.Vaginal smears were obtained from all rats to determine whether they had regular cycles for three cycles before drug administration. At the end of the11^th day of drug administration, vagina smear was carried out and the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. There was a non-significant (p>0.05) change in liver weight from control to group B, group C and group D, and also the pancreas weight for both control and test groups. However, there was a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in body weight across the group on day 9 and 11 of the kidney. Histopathological evaluation of the livers of the clomid-treated animals showed remarkable and pronounced alterations when high doses of clomid were given.  It is noteworthy that treated livers appeared to have congestion of veins, leucocytic infiltrations and cytoplasmic vacuolations of the hepatocytes. General tissue appearance of the pancreas showed that control Group A to D were of normal histology with islets of Langerhans, interlobular duct. The histology of the kidneys shows that, Group B and D shows normal histology with glomerulus and the renal tubules while Group C shows mild degeneration of the glomerulus and mild leukocytic infiltration. Although the pathogenic mechanism of clomiphene-induced health condition is still unknown, it is concluded that from the present study that women  planning  to  start  clomiphene  citrate  for infertility  should  have  their  vital organ  checked  prior  to initiating  therapy  to prevent  the  development  complications.