Background: Fluoxetine is frequently used to treat depression. There has not been any report for the effect of fluoxetine on hormonal axis of pituitary-gonad in rats. Several studies have also shown that antidepressants have interaction with sex hormones in both sexes and women are more likely to take antidepressants than men. This study aimed to examine the effect of fluoxetine on sexual hormones in female rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 female rats (180-200 g and 100-120 days of age) were divided into the five groups including control, sham and three experimental (fluoxetine 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) groups. Fluoxetine was intraperitoneally injected during four weeks. Control group did not receive any drug, but the sham group was injected with distilled water (0.18-0.2 ml/kg body weight). Levels of FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone were measured using a blood test.

Results: Results of this study showed that fluoxetine (10 or 20mg/kg) considerably reduced the estrogen and FSH levels and also fluoxetine (20mg/kg) reduced the progesterone level. However, different doses of fluoxetine did not change the LH level.

Conclusion: Fluoxetine can decrease the estrogen, progesterone, FSH levels and cause oogenic defects in rats.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that afflicts 10 percent of infertile women   is the most important reason for the cessation of ovulation. So the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Aloe vera L. on the treatment of PCOS in rat.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on Wistar rats (n=35, weight: 180±20 g) with 2-3 consecutive estrous cycle. Then rats were divided to 5 groups: Control group; PCOS group (Stradiolvalerate 4 mg/kg/im); Experimental 1,2 and 3 groups (Stradiolvalerate 4 mg/kg/im+Aloe vera L. extract 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/ip, respectively). After 21 days blood samples were taken to measure the concentration of estrogen and progesterone hormones. Findings were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan statistical tests at the significant level of P<0.05.

Results: The results showed a significant increment in PCOS group and decrement in the Experimental 2 and 3 groups in estrogen concentration compared to the Control group, respectively (P<0.05). The concentration of progesterone hormone in PCOS group and the Experimental groups were significantly decreased compared to the Control group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: The hydro-alcoholic extract of Aloe vera L. decreased and increased the concentration of estrogen and progesterone hormone in rat, respectively. So it appears that the use of Aloe vera L. would be effective in the treatment of infertility disorders and PCOS.