Depo-Provera®; (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate - DMPA) is a contraceptive currently used by
women in developed and developing countries. This investigations aimed to monitors its effect on estrous
cycle, serum proteins and lipids profile in mice treated with DMPA. Female mice were daily intramuscular
injected with DMPA (doses of 0.39 & 0.78 mg) and sacrificed after four or six weeks. Vaginal smears were daily
monitored for assessment of estrous cycle phases, sera from both treated and control groups were analyzed
for serum proteins and lipid profiles using colorimetric and electrophoretic methods. Results indicated that
DMPA induced decrease in the number of estrous cycles, duration of proestrus; estrus and metestrus with
concomitant significant (P <0.01) increase in the duration of diestrus. It also, induced biochemical alterations
in serum total protein and lipid profiles in the treated compared to control groups. On conclusion, this animal
trial shed more light on possible ill-effects of DMPA which may be attributed to hormonal imbalance or toxic
effect and this preliminary study indicated a long-term atherogenic role for DMPA.