Hormonal and Histological Changes in the Ovaries of Wistar Rats Treated with Oxycodone Hydrochloride

Introduction: Oxycodone hydrochloride can affect the nervous system, as well as other systems such as the endocrine and reproductive systems. Exposure to oxycodone hydrochloride is not without adverse effects. These adverse effects can lead to infertility. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of oxycodone hydrochloride on reproductive functions in adult female Wistar rats. Materials and methods: Fifteen adult female Wistar rats, weighing between 100 and 300 g, were used. Treatment was administered orally for thirty days. Three batches, each containing five adult female Wistar rats, were formed and treated as follows: (1) a control batch given distilled water at 10 ml/kg; (2) and (3) batches treated with oxycodone hydrochloride at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg respectively. The variables studied included physiological measurements, hormone assays and histological analysis of the ovaries. Results: Exposure of adult female Wistar rats to oxycodone hydrochloride at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg induced severe morphological alterations such as palpable adnexal masses plus a significant (p<0.05) increase in ovarian weight. A significant decrease (p<0.05) in FSH, LH and progesterone was also observed. Microscopic alterations such as cortical granuloma nodules were observed. Conclusion: Prolonged administration of oxycodone hydrochloride led to a significant increase in ovarian weight, associated with severe morphological alterations, hormone depletion and the appearance of microscopic ovarian alterations. All these disturbances are potentially linked to infertility. Keywords: oxycodone hydrochloride, infertility, hormone, ovary, histology, rats