Effect of difluoromethyl ornithine [DFMO] on ovulation in rats

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of difluoromethyl ornithino [DFMO] on ovulation and proceeding in adult female Albino rats. These were divided into four groups. The control groups [I [n= 6] and III [n= 4]] were injected vehicle [0.9% normal saline] and in the experimental groups [II [n= 6] and IV [n= 4]] each rat was injected 50 mg DFMO subcutaneously at 0900 hrs on pro-oestrous day. Rats of group I [control] and II [experimental] were sacrificed at 1400 hrs the same day and their plasma were collected for LH radioimmunoassay. There was highly significant reduction in the level of LH [p < 0.001] in experimental [group III] as compared to controls [group I]. Rats of groups III [control] and IV [experimental] were sacrificed next day at 0800 hours on oestrous. It was observed that there was highly significant [p <0.001] reduction in number of ova shed in DFMO treated rats as compared to controls. These results suggested that DFMO blocks the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase [ODC] required for polyamines synthesis: