Anti-tuberculosis drugs used in a directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) schedule alter endocrine patterns and reduce the ovarian reserve and oocyte quality in the mouse

Context. Tuberculosis is one of the major infectious diseases, with people of reproductive age group having a high risk of infection. Aims. The present study was designed to understand the consequences of anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATDs) used in DOTS (directly observed treatment short course) schedule on ovarian function. Methods. Adult female Swiss albino mice were orally administered with combinations of ATDs used in the DOTS schedule every day for 4 weeks. At 2 weeks after the cessation of ATDs administration, the endocrine changes and ovarian function were assessed in mice. Key results. Administration of ATDs to mice resulted in a prolonged estrous cycle, reduced ovarian follicle reserve, alteration in FSH, LH, and progesterone level, and decreased the number of ovulated oocytes. Further, the degree of fragmentation, degeneration, abnormal distribution of cytoplasmic organelles, abnormal spindle organisation, and chromosomal misalignment were higher in oocytes that were ovulated following superovulation. Blastocysts derived from ATDs treated mice had significantly lower total cell numbers and greater DNA damage. A marginal increase in the number of resorbed fetuses was observed in all the ATDs treated groups except in the multidrug resistance treatment group. Male progeny of ATDs treated mice had decreased sperm count and lower progressive motility, while female progeny exhibited a non-significant reduction in the number of oocytes ovulated. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that ATDs can have significant adverse effects on the ovarian reserve, cytoplasmic organisation of oocytes, and can potentially cause transgenerational changes. Implications. The findings of the present study indicate ovarian toxicity of ATDs and warrant further research in the direction of identifying alternate drugs with minimal toxicity, and strategies to mitigate the ovarian toxicity induced by these drugs.