Background: Analysis of human reports and comparison with results of exper-imental animals indicate that the effects of progesterone on human not analo-gous to experimental animals fetus, many studies showed that exposure to pro-gesterone during developing of genital tract of human fetus was not teratogenic. Other studies which performed on laboratory animals found association between progesterone administration during gestation and genital malformation. Objectives: to explore the effect of progesterone in 10.2mg/kg intraperitoneal injection in mice on testis development and anogenital distance. Materials and Methods: ten pregnant mice divided into five mouse control group that injected10.2mg/kg sesame oil and treated group that injected proges-terone at dose 10.2mg/kg/day allover gestation to the seventh day postnatally, mice offspring sacrificed, the anogenital distance, weight and diameter of testis were measured ,histological slides were prepared and examined for histopatho-logical change and measurement of seminiferous tubules diameter, germinal epithelium thickness and interstitial space were done . Results: the current study found anogenital distance decrement and histopatho-logical changes in mice offspring testis as hemorrhage or congestion of blood vessels ,irregular shapes of seminiferous tubules with atrophy, detachment of spermatogenic cells from basement membrane, death of spermatogenic cells and destruction of Sertoli and leydig cells ,it is also showed wider interstitial tissue and thinner germinal epithelium. Conclusions: The present study indicate study that progesterone injected in mice at dose 10.2 mg/kg /day (the equivalent human dose allover gestation was em-bryotoxic and teratogenic, it may cause feminization of male offsprings repre-sented by decrement the anogenital distance in mice and hypospadias in human .
Background : progesterone used as a therapeutic agent in human pregnancy. The sufficient evidence to hypothesize that progesterone may have teratogeniceffect on the reproductive system of female offspring. Objectives: This study was established to explore the individual impact of differ ent doses of progesterone during intrauterine period on reproductive system of female mouse, and on some reproductive parameters. Materials and Methods: ninety adult female mice (8-10 weeks) and weight (25-28) gm divided into three groups. Control group (G1) was treated daily (IM) injection with sesame seed oilfrom 1-14 day of pregnancy, and other two groups that treated with different doses of progesterone G2 (0.4mg/kg. B.wt/day), G3 (0.8mg/kg. B.wt/day), daily (IM) injection of progesterone from 1-14 day of pregnancy then selecting of Female offspring and sacrificed at age zero day, one month, two month. Parameter analysis involvedanogenital distance , body and ovary weights, , length of epithelial cells, number and diameter of follicles (Primordial , Primary , Secondary and Mature antral) , corpus luteum and using histological section by (motic image plus) and hormonal assay including proges terone and Estrogen. Results: The results of this study demonstrated that at one month, two months after birth, there was a highly significant increase P< 0.01 in theanogenital dis tance . The statistical analysisshowed no statistical significant difference in the body and ovary weights , at one month after birth, The statistical analysisshowed highly statistically significant decreased(P< 0.01 ) in both G2 and G3 in the number of follicles . At one,two months after birth, there was a highly significant decreased (P< 0.01 ) in both G2 and G3 in the number ofcorpora lutea. At age two month, there was a highly significant decreased (P< 0.01 ) in both G2 and G3 in the height of epithelial cell layer.There was a highly significant decreased (P< 0.01 ) in both G2 and G3 in the diameter of follicles (Primordial , Primary , Secondary and Mature antral) follicles . There was a highly significant decreased (P< 0.01 ) in both G2 and G3 in Estrogen and Progesterone levelof female off spring when compared with the control group G1. Conclusion: The results showed higher doses of progesterone for long period in pregnancy can impact some reproductive parameters of female offspring mice. Keywords : Progesterone, corpora lutea, Estrogen,anogenital distance