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Liraglutide treatment effects on rat ovarian and uterine tissues.

Reprod Biol · 2019

Last updated 2026-05-28

In a study of 30 female rats, those given liraglutide for 5 weeks showed reduced levels of reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone, while testosterone increased. The drug also lowered antioxidant markers and increased markers of tissue damage, with ovarian and uterine tissues showing signs of cell death, inflammation, and structural damage. However, most of these effects lessened after stopping the drug for 2 weeks.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalReprod Biol, 2019
Citations11
Relative citation ratio0.70
NIH percentile39
Molecules liraglutide
Conditions studied Pcos, Fertility

Abstract

Liraglutide is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue used for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of Liraglutide in ovarian and uterine tissues in albino rats. 30 female rats were divided into 3 groups, 10 rats each. Group (I) served as control group, group (II) animals administrated therapeutic doses of liraglutide for 5 weeks and group (III) animals were injected with Liraglutide as the pervious group. Then they were left for 2 weeks after drug termination as a recovery period. The biochemical results showed a decrease in the female reproductive hormones profile, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and an increase in the level of testosterone (T). Liraglutide administration caused a significant decrease in the antioxidant markers, glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a significant increase in the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA). The histopathological examination revealed apoptosis of granulosa cells of different types of follicles with an increase in atretic and disorganized follicles. Vacuolar degenerative changes, and Atrophied muscle with sever inflammatory cell infiltrate in endometrium with congested, dilated blood vessels could be detected in uterine tissues. However, most of the deleterious effects of liraglutide decreased after drug discontinuation. In this study, we clarify the harmful effect of the liraglutide on ovarian and uterine tissues, thus potentially causing reproductive health malfunction and reducing the chances of pregnancy.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 31350200 ↗

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