P-120: Evaluation of the Antioxidant Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Ischemia Damage, Apoptosis Incidence and Restoration of Ovarian Activity Following MiceOvary Heterotropic Autotransplantation

Background: Ovarian tissue transplantation is now considered as a procedure to preserve the fertility of young woman patient undergoing cancer therapy. An essential strategy to improve the efficiency of ovarian transplantation is to overcome the initial ischemia reperfusion injury and free radicals production that lead to a significant follicular loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a potent antioxidant and antiapoptosis factor on hormonal changes, apoptosis incidence and oxidative damage in mice ovary heterotopic autotransplantation. Materials and Methods: The NMRI mice (4-5 weeks) were divided into three groups (n=6): control; auto transplanted +NAC (150 mg/kg i.p, one day before surgery till 7days after transplantation), and auto transplanted + saline. 28 days after transplantation, the total volume of ovary, cortex and medulla were estimated stereologically. DNA fragmentation, plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), progesterone and estradiol were also evaluated. Data were analyzed with SPSS using one way ANOVA and means were considered significantly different at p<0.05. Results: A significant increase was seen in the mean total volume of ovary and cortex in the auto transplanted +NAC group compared to the auto transplanted + saline ones. There was no significant difference in the percentage of apoptotic follicles among the NAC-treated and the control groups (p>0.05). The concentration of MDA significantly reduced in the NAC treated group compared to the saline treated group (p<0.05). The level of progesterone did not differ in both of the graft groups (p>0.05) while the level of estradiol inceased significantly in the grafts+ NAC compared to the salinetreated grafts (p<0.05). Conclusion: NAC could effectively inhibit ischemia reperfusion injury and improve the restoration of transplanted ovaries function by reducing the oxidative stress and apoptosis.