Disruption of female rat vaginal cyclicity by daily treatment with imipramine

Intact, adult female rats were injected for 21 days with 10 mg/kg of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine. During this time, there was almost total suppression of reproductive cyclicity as indicated by the absence of vaginal proestrus and by the absence of sexual receptivity. However, there was no evidence for a permanent disturbance in the female reproductive system. When treatment with imipramine was terminated, vaginal cyclicity resumed within the next 2 to 8 days. The generality of the current findings to other antidepressants or to the human female is currently unknown. However, since human females are the primary consumers of antidepressants, caution should be exercised when females are given antidepressant therapy.