As a result of the important developments in molecular oncology, many drugs on the agenda started to be use
in targeted anti-cancer treatment interrupt proliferation of tumor cells via interacting with cell receptors and
intracellular signaling molecules. Lapatinib is one of the drugs which is used in targeted therapies, enters into
the cell and inhibits the activity of epidermal growth factor and receptor-linked tyrosine kinase. Many
mammalian uterine and ovarian tissues have EGFR and HER2 which influence uterine activity, oocyte
maturation and follicular development. Our study aimed to investigate changes on uterine and ovarian tissues
of rats may cause by Lapatinib on biochemical, light and electron microscopic levels.
24 female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, respectively we applied 30 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg Lapatinib
to the experimental groups and the same amount of distilled water was given to the control group twice a day
dose by gavage during the 14 days. Intracardiac blood samples were taken from the rats under anesthesia for
biochemical analysis, uterine and ovarian tissue samples were taken for light and electron microscopic
examination at the end of the experiment. FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone levels in blood serum were
measured.
Beside the reduction of estradiol and progesterone levels in the rats of experimental groups, it was observed
that there were structural changes in stromal cells and glands of endometrium, oocyte, granulose cells and
interstitial cells of ovaries and it was pointed out that these changes were more prominent in the high dose
group.
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