Effect of combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant therapy on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary: an experimental study

An experiemental study was performed to evaluate the effect of combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant theraphy on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary. Also the results of combined theraphy is aimed to compared with monotherapy. Fifty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 9 equal groups (n=6). In Sham group right ovaries of the rats were sampled without generating ischemia and reperfusion injury via median laparatomy. Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) was performed by clamping the vascular supply of right ovary for 3 hours (I/R 1 group) and 6 hours (I/R 2 group), respectively. After one hour reperfusion, rats recieved 20 mg/kg Methylprednisolone (Pred 1; 3 hours ischemia and Pred 2; 6 hours ischemia) and 50 mg/kg Vitamin C (Vit C 1; 3 hours ischemia and Vit C 2; 6 hours ischemia). The combined therapy groups (Pred+Vit C 1 and Pred+Vit C 2) were adminstered same doses of both Methylprednisolone and Vitamin C. Rats were sacrifed after 24 hours of reperfusion and ovarian tissues were sampled for oxidative markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] biochemically. Histopathological findings of inflammation (follicular cell degeneration, vascular congestion, hemorrhage and infiltration by inflammatory cells) were also evaluated with an injury score grading normal findings to severe injury (Grade 0 to 3). The results were compared among groups. Mean levels of antioxidant enzymes and histopathologic grades showed significant difference among groups (P<0.05). MDA and CAT levels were lower in Pred+Vit C 1 than Pred 1, Vit C 1 and I/R 1 (P<0.05). SOD and CAT levels were lower in Pred+Vit C 2 than Pred 2 and I/R 2. Total injury scores were lower in Pred+Vit C 1 and Pred+Vit C 2 than I/R 1 and I/R 2 (P<0.05). The combined treatment of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory theraphy reduces the biochemical and histopathologic findings of I/R injury in rat ovary. These results are significantly comparable with the effect of monotheraphy.