Hormonal and histological impacts of valproate in PTZ-kindled male rats: a focus on 5HT1A receptors.

INTRODUCTION

The occurrence of seizures and the use of valproate (VPA) both have sexual and hormonal side effects and ultimately cause infertility in males and females. Also, since VPA increases serotonin levels, it plays a role in the development of hormonal disorders in both sexes. Our aim was to investigate the role of 5-HT1A receptors in the impact of VPA on hormonal and cellular changes in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindled rats.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Fifty male rats were divided into placebo (saline), PTZ + Saline, PTZ + VPA, PTZ + NAD, and PTZ + VPA + NAD groups. Hormone assays and histological examinations were performed at the end of kindling or after the fifteenth injection.

FINDINGS: Changes in sex hormones due to epilepsy and VPA use in males decreased testosterone and increased estradiol. Progesterone increased in the kindled group and decreased in kindled rats receiving VPA. Histological changes due to kindling were observed, as were decreases in the number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, Sertoli and Leydig cells, and seminiferous tubules; the diameter of seminiferous tubules was also smaller than in the saline group.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results showed that the changes effected by the investigated drugs (VPA and NAD) increased when the receptor antagonist was injected with VPA. Therefore, maybe the activation of the 5-HT1A receptors has a protective effect in terms of the control of serotonin levels. When the 5HT1A receptor is inactive, the side effects caused by valproate become more pronounced.