Antipsychotic aripiprazole affects the sexual behavior and biochemical parameters of female Wistar rats

Aripiprazole is a drug that modulates both the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. It is currently widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia and mental disorders due to its stabilizing effect on the dopaminergic system. Studies on psychotropic drugs have demonstrated negative effects on hormonal regulation and sexual behavior as a consequence of their mechanism of action; however, the potential genotoxic effects of aripiprazole have not yet been fully clarified. Given the limited number of studies on the changes that this drug can cause in the reproductive system, the present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of aripiprazole on fertility and female sexual behavior, focusing on metabolic and endocrine-reproductive responses through biochemical and toxicological parameters related to reproduction. For this purpose, adult rats were divided into four experimental groups and subjected to different doses of aripiprazole (0, 0.3, 3.0, and 6.0 mg/kg), diluted in the vehicle (DMSO and saline) by gavage for 21 days. Estrous cyclicity was monitored, and reproductive and biochemical parameters were evaluated at the end of treatment. The results showed that there was no increase in body weight and that the data, in general, did not follow the monotonic dose-response curve. Biochemical changes in creatinine, albumin, and triglycerides were observed, in addition to adverse effects on cyclicity and sexual behavior. Thus, aripiprazole at doses of 0.3 and 6.0 mg/kg in this experimental model may cause toxic effects on the endocrine-reproductive system of fertile rats.