Electrophoretic and Histopathological Studies on Adult Female Rats Treated with Depo-Provera (DMPA)

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) is a long-acting, injectable progesterone derivative contraceptive and classified as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). In this study the effect of (DMPA) on serum protein patterns, hepatic and renal tissues were investigated on adult female rats. Sixty mature healthy female rats with average body weight ranged 130 - 200 g, 40 of them were injected IM with DMPA human therapeutic (150 and 300 mg) equivalent to rat doses (2.7 or 5.4 mg/ rat/ week) and sacrificed after four and six weeks of the treatment. Sera total proteins, liver functions and electrophoretic analyses were quantified as well as liver tissues were removed and fixed. The Studentʹs "t"-distribution were adopted for assessment of significant changes occurring between the groups. DMPA was found to reduce the concentrations of both serum total protein and serum protein fractions (Prealbumin, Albumin and globulin "a-P & y") of the treated rats as well as several band discomfitures. DMPA induced histopathological lesions in liver and kidneys tissues of the treated rats which represented by; Lymphocytic infiltration as well as dilated and edematous blood vessels. The majority of liver cells their cytoplasm displayed signs of degeneration represented by cytoplasmic vacuolization and necrosis. The findings shed more light and traceable to effects of DMPA on the adult female rats and suggests a toxic potential of DMPA which makes this an important issue that is worthy of animal trials studying possible ill-effects. It demands the lowest possible use of effective doses of DMPA to minimize any potential risk