Effect of pycnogenol on ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage in the ovaries of rats

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of pycnogenol (PYC) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) ovarian damage induced by experimental ovarian torsion in rats using biochemical and histopathological methods. Methods: Four groups of rats (n = 6) were randomly assigned and designated as follows – SG: sham group, PCG: pycnogenol (40 mg/kg) group, IRG: ovarian ischemia-reperfusion group, and PIR: pycnogenol (40 mg/kg) + ovarian ischemia-reperfusion group. In IRG and PYC treatment groups, ischemia was induced in the right ovary for two hours with vascular clips. The ovary was reperfused for two hours after ischemia was induced. Then, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the ovarian tissues of rats were examined. Ovarian tissues were also examined histopathologically and follicle counts were performed. Results: Histopathological examination revealed that the developing follicles in ovary of I/R-induced group showed both morphological and cellular degeneration and vascular pathology. The PYC treatment group showed less ovarian damage, edema and vascular pathology than I/R-induced group (p < 0.05). The MDA, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in I/R-induced group were significantly higher than in SG and tGSH levels were significantly reduced by I/R damage (p < 0.05). Pycnogenol treatment reversed these biochemical indices as well as I/R-induced histopathological changes. Conclusion: Pycnogenol has a protective effect in rat ovaries by alleviating I/R-induced changes in biochemical parameters and histological disruptions. Further studies, including those in humans, to determine the effect of PYC on ovarian injuries would be required.