Clomiphene Citrate Alters Vaginal Surface Morphology in Cycling Rats

Abstract

Cycling virgin female rats were treated with clomiphene citrate (CC) during dioestrus of the reproductive cycle. Animals were sacrificed 2 days after the initial injection and their vaginal tissue was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Animals treated with one dose of CC had an epithelium consistent with a prolonged dioestrus. Treatment with CC for 2 days induced changes in the epithelium that had no resemblance to any normal hormonally controlled event in the vagina. It was found that CC had effects consistent with progesterone alone as well as effects unique to this superovulatory drug.

Comparison of the effects of letrozole and clomiphene citrate on ovarian follicles, endometrium, and hormone levels in the rat

“…However, we also found no increase in E 2 levels after clomiphene citrate administration. Terry et al (8) found that cycling rats treated with clomiphene citrate had an epithelium consistent with a prolonged diestrus. We believe that at this dose, clomiphene citrate may block the effect or inhibit production of endogenous estrogen and result in prolonged diestrus.…”

In vivo Evaluation of the Genotoxic Effects of Clomiphene Citrate on Rat Reticulocytes: A Micronucleus Genotoxicity

“…In this study, a direct in situ MN assay technique was used to analyze CC genotoxicity in a rat model. CC, the most commonly used ovulation-inducing agent, has both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects [16][17][18] . The published data on the possible association between CC and ovarian cancer are inconclusive, although theoretical considerations and clinical observations suggest such an association is possible.…”