Author : Agung Riono, Y.V.

Summary : This study consisting of two parts, was conducted to determine the effect of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) on the reproductive status of rats and goats. Study 1 utilized thirty-six 36 mature rats. Of these, 16 were used to determine the effect of aspirin on the length of estrous cycle, number of newborn, weight of ovaries and the number of corpora lutea. These rats were divided into four groups and given the following aspirin dosages: 0 mg, 75 mg, 150 mg, and 225 mg, respectively. The remaining 20 rats were used to determine the effect of aspirin on fertility. In study 2, 12 mature female goats were used. They were randomly assigned to four treatment groups and given aspirin at 0 gm, 10 gm, 20 gm, and 30 gm dosages, respectively. Results indicated a significant positive linear relationship between dosage and length of the estrous cycle in rats. Fertility was decreased by 40 percent in animals dosed with 75 mg aspirin. At higher dosages (150 and 225 mg), fertility was completely reduced to zero. The weight of ovaries and the number of corpora lutea were likewise reduced. The reduction was linear for the ovarian weight and quadratic for the number of corpora lutea were observed. Results on goat experiment showed that the weights of the ovaries decreased as well as the number of corpora lutea as the dosage of aspirin increased. The decreased was linear for the corpora lutea and quadratic for the ovarian weight. The number of atretic follicles increased although the difference was not significant. Blood progesterone concentration was low (mean value of 0.36 + 0.24 ng/mL) at estrus time; it increased and reached a peak (mean value of 5.56 + 0.37 ng/mL) at luteal phase, and decreased (mean value of 0.89 + ).61 ng/mL) from day 11 onward until the end of teh estrus cycle. The length of estrous cycle was not affected by prolonged aspirin administration in goats. It was 19.17 + 0.72 days in the control animals and 20.17 + 0.99 days in animals dosed with 10 gm aspirin.