OBJECTIVE:

Many recent reports have shown that drugs used for ovulation induction may be associated with ovarian cancer at least among certain subgroups of users. That is why these studies have discouraged a ‘blanket approach’ and suggested the need for continued monitoring of long-term risks of such treatment. Clomiphene is the ovulation inducing drug thus implicated in majority of such studies. But there is paucity of study of its effect on ovary either in vivo or in vitro. Such study is clearly indicated. A case control animal experiment is planned on seven mice of Swiss strain to see the effect of clomiphene in ovary and liver.

Materials and Method:

Against some control mice, four mice were fed with 0.4 mg clomiphene citrate continuously for 45 days and then were sacrificed to see changes in ovary and liver.

RESULTS:

The mice lost weight; liver peroxidase level was high whereas liver protein and glycogen was low. In ovary abundant follicular development was noted. Striking finding was increased fibrosis as shown by histochemistry. Tissue homogenate showed exceptionally higher alkaline phosphatse, which was also corroborated by histochemistry probably due to the many growing follicles. No benign or malignant tumour could be detected in any of such sample.

CONCLUSION:

Clomiphene may not cause cancer of ovary. It is difficult to say whether clomiphene or infertility is the cause of some reported association of cancer with clomiphene.

Keywords: Clomiphene citrate, Swiss mice, liver peroxidase, Graafian follicle, alkaline phosphatase